THE TRUE HISTORY 



AND 



TRAGEDY 



OF 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



Read 
Page 9 



23- 
24, 



ERRATA. 
Copyright, 1904, By Edward A. Guy for "Copyrighted 1903". 
Column 2, line 41, read does it for "does it". 

9, " Retire thou; " "Retire thou," 
heaven nests 
But 



25. 



29. 
45. 



38, 
16, 

5. 
17. 

3i. 
1, 

13. 

40, 

*5. 



supply comma (,) after 

read If for 

Peter 
supply comma (,) after 
hyphen (-) 
dele comma (,) 



"heavens nest 1 

"B ut". 

"sun". 

"cloud". 

"if". 

"Peter". 

"sons". 

"chief". 

"him,". 



THE TRUE HISTORY AND TRAGEDY 



OF 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH 



BY 



LEVI BEN-HALPAI. 



WASHINGTON, D. C-, U- S- A.: 

EDWARD. A. GUY. 

1903. 



1 904 

fl Cooyrtffht 

CBLASS Ct, XXo. No 

i> X s & 

COPY B 



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JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS. 



God the Father. 

Joshua the Messiah [Jesus Christ]. 

Joseph, son of David the heir to the 

throne. • 

Gabriel, the angel of the Lord. 
Astrologers from the East. 
Herod the Great, the usurping king. 



Johanan, the immerser. 
The Devil. 
Herod, the tetrarch. 
Pilatus, the Roman governor. 
Miriam, the mother of Joshua the 

Messiah. 
Miriam Magdalene, and other women. 



The chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, the 
disciples, a leper, and others. All the characters of the Drama are properly 
introduced at their time and place by Levi Ben-halpai the historian and 
dramatist. 

Scene — Various parts of Palestine: Egypt. Time — 5 B. C. — 28 A. D. 

[1-33 A. D.]. 



The most ancient Greek Manuscripts on papyrus and parchment are writ- 
ten in Uncial, or Capital letters, without any division of the words, punctuation. 
or Chapters and verses; so that it is left to every nation, or people, to put the 
translation into the best form, each, in their own language. But many of the 
MSS. have paragraphs and sections and separate lines, a careful collation of 
which has resulted, after forty-one year's study of the text, in the following 
Dramatic form. May it be blessed of God to the salvation of souls, and the com- 
fort and edification of all believers in Joshua the Messiah. 
Address all communications to 

Edward A. Guy, • 

329 C Street Northwest, 

Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 



Copyrighted 1903. All rights reserved. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



PROLOGUE. 
Enter Levi Ben-halpai. 
Levi. A book of the birth of Joshua 
O the Messiah, the son of David, the son 
of Abraham. 

Abraham begot Isaac; 

but Esaac begot Jacob; 

but Jacob begot Judah and his 

brothers; 
but Judah begot Perez and Zerah 

out of Tamar; 
but Perez begot Hezron; 
but Hezron begot Ram; 
but Ram begot Amminadab; 
but Amminadab begot Nahshon; 
but Nahshon begot Salmon; 
but Salmon begot Boaz out of 

Rahab; 
but Boaz begot Obed out of Ruth; 
but Obed begot Jesse; 
but Jesse begot David the king: 
but David begot Solomon out of 

the of Uriah; 

but Solomon begot Rchoboam; 
but Rchoboam begot Abijah; 
but Abijah begot Asa; 
but Asa begot Jehoshaphat; 
but Jehoshaphat begot Jehoram; 
but Jehoram begot Uzziah; 
btit Uzziah begot Jotham; 
but Jotham begot Ahaz; 
but Ahaz begot Hezekiah; 
but Hezekiah begot Manasseh; 
but Manasseh begol Anion; 
but Anion begot Josiah; 
but Josiah begot Jeconiah and his 
brothers, at the time of the re- 
moval to Babylon: 
but, after the removal to Babylon 
Jeconiah begot Shealtiel; 
but Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel; 
but Zerubbabel begot Abiud; 
but Abiud begot Eliakim; 
but Eliakim begot Azor; 



but Azor begot Sadoc; 
but Sadoc begot Achim; 
but Achim begot Eliud; 
but Eliud begot Eleazar; 
but Eleazar begot Matthan; 
but Matthan begot Jacob; 
but Jacob begot Joseph the hus- 
band of Miriam, out of whom 
was begotten Joshua, the one de- 
nominated the Messiah. 
Therefore all the generations from 
Abraham until David are fourteen 
generations; and from David until 
the removal to Babylon are fourteen 
generations; and from the removal 
to Babylon until the Messiah are 
fourteen generations. 
ACT I. 
Scene i. Nazareth. 
Levi. But the birth of Joshua the 
Messiah was thus: While his mother 
Miriam was betrothed to Joseph, be- 
fore the time for them ever to come 
together, she was found with child, 
out of a holy Spirit. But Joseph her 
husband, being righteous, and never 
wishing to make her a public example, 
intended to put her away privately. 
But while he devised these things, lo, 
an angel of the Lord appeared to him 
in a dream, saying, 

An angel. Joseph, son of David, 
never mightest thou fear to receive 
beside thee Miriam thy wife: for the 
thing begotten in her is out a holy 
Spirit. But she shall bear a son; and 
thou shalt call his name Joshua 
[Saviour]: for he himself will save his 
people from their sins. 

Levi. But this whole thing has 

Le, in order that there might be 

fulfilled the thing spoken under the 

Lord through the prophet, saying, 

Lo, the virgin shall be with child, 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT I. 



and shall bear a son; and they shall 
call his name Immanuel (which is, 
being interpreted, The God in com- 
pany with vis). 

But Joseph arose from the sleep 
and did as the angel of the Lord or- 
:d to him; and he received beside 
him his wife: and he was not knowing 
her until after she bore a son; and he 
called his name Joshua. 

Scene 2. Jerusalem. Bethlehem. 
Egypt. 

Levi. But when Joshua was beg< 
in Bethlehem of Judasa in the days 
of Herod the king, lo, astrologers from 
eastern regions arrived into Hiero- 
soluma, saying, 

Astrologers. Where is the one born 
King of the Judasans? for we saw his 
star in the east; and we came to wor- 
ship him. 

Levi. But the king Herod heard it 
and was troubled, and all Hierosoluma 
in company with him. And he gath- 
ered all the chiefpriests and scribes 
of the people and was inquiring from 
beside them where the Messiah should 
be begotten. But the ones spoke to 
him, 

The chiefpriests and scribes. In Beth- 
lehem of Judaea: for thus it has been 
written through the prophet, 

And thou Bethlehem, land of 
Judah, thou art by no means least 
among the governors of Judah: for 
out of thee shall come forth a govern- 
ing one, whoever will shepherd my 
people Israel. 

Levi. Then lb-rod privately called 
the astrologers and accurately ascer- 
tained from beside them the time 
lelicu the star appeared. And he 
them into Bethlehem and sp 

Herod. Go ye and investigate . 
rately concerning the child: but so 
soon as ye might find it, n porl to me, 
to the intent that also I, I might come 
worship it. 

Levi. But the ones heard the king 



and went: and, lo, the star, which 
they saw in the east, was leading be- 
fore them, until it came and was made 
to stand overabove wdiere the child 
was. But when they saw the star, 
they rejoiced with excessive great joy. 
And they came into the dwelling and 
saw the child in company with Miriam 
its mother; and they fell down and 
worshipped it: and they opened their 
treasures and brought unto it presents, 
gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
And being warned in a dream never 
to revert unto Herod, they withdrew 
into their own country through another 
way. 

But when they were withdrawn, lo, 
an angel of the Lord appears to 
Joseph in a dream, saying, 

An angel. Arise thou and receive 
beside thee the child and its mother, 
and flee into Egypt; and be thou 
there until assuredly I might speak 
to thee: for Herod is about to seek 
the child for to destroy it. 

Levi. But the one arose and re- 
ceived beside him the child and its 
mother by night, and withdrew into 
Egypt: and he was there until the 
decease of Herod: in order that there 
might be fulfilled the thing spoken 
under the Lord through the prophet, 
saying 

Ou. _f Egypt I called my son. 

Then Herod, when he saw that he 
was mocked under the astrologers, 
was exceedingly wroth; and he com- 
missioned and slew all the boys the 
ones in Bethlehem, and in all its 
1" Tders, from two years old and down- 
ward, according to the time which he 
accurately ascertained from beside 
the astrologers. Then was fulfilled 
the thing spoken through Jeremiah 
the prophet, saying, 

A voice was heard in Ramah, v. 
ing and much walling, Rachel weep- 
ing for her beams; and she was not 
wishing to be comforted; because 



SCEXE IV. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



they arc not. 

But when Herod deceased, lo, an 
angel of the Lord appears in a dream 
to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 

An angel. Arise thou and receive 
beside thee the child and its mother, 
and go into the laud of Israel: for they 
have died the ones seeking the soul of 
the child. 

Levi. But the one arose and re- 
ceived beside him the child and its 
mother, and entered into the land of 
Israel. But he heard that Archelaus 
reigns over Judaea instead of his father 
III rod and he feared to come away 
there: but being warned in a dream, 
he withdrew into the parts of Galilee: 
and he came am/ resided into a city 
denominated Nazareth: to the in- 
tent that there might be fulfilled the 
thing spoken through the prophets, 
that he shall be called a Nazarene. 
Scene 3. Wilderness of Judcea. River 
Jordan: 

Levi. But in those days Johanan 
the immerser arrives, heralding in the 
wilderness of Judaea, saying, 

JoJianan the immerser. Reconsider 
ye: for the kingdom of the heavens 
has neared. 

Levi. For this is the one spoken of 
through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 

A voice of one shouting in the wil- 
derness. Ready ye the way of the Lord, 
make his paths straight. 

But Johanan himself was having 
his clothing from camel's hair, and a 
leathern girdle about his loins: btit 
his nourishment was locusts and wild 
honey. Then there was going out 
unto him Hierosoluma, and all Judaea, 
and all the country round about the 
Jordan; and they were being im- 
mersed under him in the ri*ver Jordan, 
ones confessing out their sins. But 
when he saw many of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees coming over upon the 
immersion, he spoke to them, 

Johanan. Progeny of vipers, who 



foreshowed to you to flee from the 
anger which is about to be? There- 
I' ire bring ye forth fruit worthy of the 
reconsideration: and never might ye 
think to say in yourselves, We have 
Abraham to our father: for I say to 
you, that The God is able out of these 
stones to raise up beams to Abraham. 
But already the axe is laid unto the 
root of the fruit-trees: therefore every 
fruit-tree never bringing forth beauti- 
ful fruit is chopped out, and is cast 
into the fire. I indeed, I immerse you 
in water into reconsideration: but the 
one coming behind me is mightier than 
I, whose shoes I am not sufficient to 
carry: he himself will immerse you in 
the Holy Spirit and fire: whose fan is 
in his hand, and he will thoroughly 
cleanse his threshingfloor, and will 
gather his wheat into the storehouse; 
but the chaff he will burn up with un- 
quenchable fire. 

Levi. Then Joshua arrives from 
Galilee over upon the Jordan unto 
Johanan, for to be immersed under 
him. But the one was prohibiting 
him, saying, 

Johanan. I, I have need to be im- 
mersed under thee: and thou, comest 
thou unto me? 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke unto him, 

Joshua. Acquit thou it at present: 
for thus it is a beseeming thing to us 
to fulfil all righteousness. 

Levi. Then he acquits him. But 
Joshua, being immersed, straightway 
ascended from the water: and, lo, the 
heavens were opened, and he saw the 
Spirit of God descending as if a dove, 
coming over upon him: and. lo, a 
voice out of the heavens, saying, 

Gad. This is my Son the David, in 
whom I wellthought. 
Scene 4. The wilderness. Jerusalem. 
A mountain. 

Levi. Then Joshua was led up 
under the Spirit into the wilderness 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT I. 



to be tempted under the devil. And 
he fasted forty days and forty nights 
and afterward he hungered. And 
the one tempting approached and 
spoke to him, 

The devil. If thou art a son of the 
God, speak thou in order that these 
stones might become loaves of bread. 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. It has been written, The 
human shall not live upon bread 
alone, howbeit upon every saying 
going out through the mouth of God. 

Levi. Then the devil receives him 
beside himself into the holy city, and 
stood him over upon the loftiest 
battlement of the temple, and says to 
him, 

The devil. If thou art a son of the 
God, cast thou thyself down: for it 
has been written, that He will com- 
mand his angels concerning thee: and 
over their hands they shall take thee, 
lest at any time thou mightcst 
stumble thy foot unto a stone. 

Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 

Joshua. Again it has been written, 
Thou shalt not deliberately tempt the 
Lord thy God. 

Levi. Again the devil receives him 
beside himself into an exceedingly 
high mountain, and shows to him all 
the kingdoms of the world, and their 
glory; and spoke to him, 

The devil. All these things I will 
to thee, if assuredly thou might- 
cst fall down and worship me. 

Levi. Then Joshua says to him, 

Joshua. Retire thou, Satan: for it 
has been written, Thou shalt worship 
the Lord thy God, and to him alone 
thou shalt minister. 

Levi. Then the devil acquits him; 
and, lo, angels approached, and were 
serving him. 

ernaum. Lake of Gali- 
Galilee. 

Levi. But when he heard that 



Johanan was delivered up, he with- 
drew into Galilee. And he left Naz- 
areth behind, and came and resided 
into Capernaum, the city beside the 
sea, in the borders of Zebulun and 
Naphtali: in order that there might 
be fulfilled the thing spoken through 
Isaiah the prophet, saying. 

The land of Zebulun, and the land 
of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, 
beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the 
nations, the people the one sitting in 
darkness saw great light; and to the 
ones sitting in the country and shadow 
of death, light sprang up to them. 

From then Joshua began to herald, 
and to say, 

Joshua. Reconsider ye : for the king- 
dom of the heavens has neared. 

Levi. But he, walking beside the 
sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, 
Simon the one denominated Petros 
[Peter], and Andrew his brother, cast- 
ing a drag-net into the sea: for they 
were fishers. And he says to them, 

Joshua. Hither ye behind me, and 
I will make you fishers of humans. 

Levi. But the ones immediately 
acquitted the nets and followed him. 
And he advanced' thence and saw 
other two brothers, Jacob the son of 
Zebedee, and Johanan his brother, in 
the boat in company with Zebedee 
their father, repairing their nets: and 
he called them. But the o>ics im- 
mediately acquitted the boat and 
their father and followed him. 

And Joshua was leading about in 
the whole Galilee, teaching in their 
synagogues, and heralding the glad 
tidings of the kingdom, and curing 
every disease' and every illness among 
the people. And his fame came away 
into the whole Syria: and they 
brought unto him all the ones faring 
badly, constrained with various dis- 
eases and tests, and fiendized, and 
moonized, and paralytics, and he 
cured them. And there followed him 



SCENE VI. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



many crowds from Galilee, and De- 
capolis, and Hierosoluma, and Judaea, 
and from beyond the Jordan. 

Scene 6. A mountain in Galilee. 
Levi. But he saw the crowds and 
ascended into the mountain: and 
when he sat down, his disciples came 
unto him: and he opened his mouth 
and was teaching them, saying, 

Joshua. Happy are the poor in the 
Spirit; because theirs is the kingdom 
of the heavens. 

Happy are the ones mourning; be- 
cause they themselves shall be com- 
forted. 

Happy are the meek; because they 
themselves shall inherit the earth. 

Happy are the ones hungering and 
thirsting after the righteousness; be- 
cause they themselves shall be suf- 
ficed. 

Happy are the merciful; because 

they themselves shall obtain mercy. 

Happy are the clean in the heart; 

because they themselves shall see the 

God. 

Happy are the peacedoers; be- 
cause they themselves shall be called 
sons of God. 

Happy arc the ones having been 
pursued for righteousness' sake; be- 
cause theirs is the kingdom of the 
heavens. 

Happy are ye whenever they might 
reproach you, and pursue you, and 
speak every evil thing against you 
they lying, for my sake. Rejoice ye, 
and be glad; because your hire is 
much in the heavens: for thus they 
pursued the prophets the ones before 
you. 

Ye, ye are the salt of the <jarth: but 
if assuredly the salt might become 
insipid, in what shall it be salted? it 
is not yet mighty into one thing, 
except to be cast without and trodden 
down under the humans. 

Ye, ye are the light of the world. 
A city lying overabove a mountain 



is not able to be hid. Neither do 
they burn a lamp, and place it under 
the modius [peck], howbeit over upon 
the lampstand; and it shines to all 
the ones in the dwelling. Thus let 
your light shine in front of the humans, 
to the intent that they might see your 
beautiful works, and glorify your 
Father the one in the heavens. 

Never might ye deem that I came 
to break down the law, or the proph- 
ets: I did not come to break down, 
howbeit to fulfil. For amen I say to 
you, Until assuredly the heaven and 
the earth might pass away, one yod 
[i] or one little horn of a letter might 
not ever pass away from the law, 
until assuredly all things might be- 
come. Therefore whosoever might 
break one of these least command- 
ments, and might teach the humans 
thus, he shall be called least in the 
kingdom of the heavens: but whoso- 
ever might do and teach them, this one 
shall be called great in the kingdom of 
the heavens. For I say to you, that 
Except assuredly your righteousness 
might abound more than the righteous- 
ness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye 
might not ever enter into the kingdom 
of the heavens. 

Ye heard that it was spoken to the 
ancients, 

Thou shalt not murder; but who- 
soever might murder shall be guilty 
in the judging. 

But I, I say to you, that 
Everyone the one angered with his 
brother shall be guilty in the judging: 
but whosoever might speak to his 
brother, Raca, shall be guilty in the 
council: but whosoever might speak, 
Fool, shall be guilty into the Gehenna 
of the fire. Therefore if assuredly 
thou mayest be bringing unto thy 
present over upon the altar, and there 
mightest remember that thy brother 
has anything against thee ; acquit 
there thy present in front of the altar, 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT I. 



and retire thou; first be conciliated 
to thy brother, and then come and 
bring unto thy present. Be thou one 
well considering with thy adversary 
quick, until whatever time thou art 
in company with him in the way: lest 
at any time the adversary might de- 
liver line up to the judge, and the 
judge to the officer, and thou shalt 
be cast into guard. Amen I say to 
thee, Thou mightest not ever come 
out thence, until assuredly thou 
mightest render the last quadrans. 

Ye heard that it was spoken, 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

But I, I say to you, that 

Everyone the one beholding a 
woman unto the purpose to desire her 
committed adultery with her already 
in his heart. But if thy right eye 
entraps thee, take thou it out, and 
cast it from thee: for it is expedient 
for thee in order that one of thy mem- 
bers might be destroyed, and never 
that thy whole body might be cast 
into Gehenna. And if thy right 
hand entraps thee, chop thou it out, 
and cast it from thee: for it is expedi- 
ent for thee in order that one of thy 
members might be destroyed, and 
never that thy whole body might 
come away into Gehenna. 

But it was spoken, 

Whoso might put away his wife, 
let him give her a divorce. 

But I, I say to you, that 

E cryonc the one putting away his 
wife, saving for the cause of whoredom, 
makes her to commit adultery, and 
whosoever might marry a woman 
having been put away commits adul- 
tery. 

Again, ye heard that it was spoken 
to the ancients, 

Thou shalt not forswear thyself, 
but shalt render to the Lord thy oaths. 

But I, I say to you, 

Never to swear at all : neither by 
the heaven; because it is the throne 



of the God: nor by the earth; be- 
cause it is the footstool of his feet: 
nor by Hierosoluma; because it is 
the city of the great King: neither 
mightest thou swear by thy head; 
because thou art not able to make 
one hair white or black. But let 
your word be, Yes, yes; No, no: but 
the thing more abundant than these 
is out of the Evil one. 

Ye heard that it was spoken, 

An eye instead of an eye, and a 
tooth instead of a tooth. 

But I, I say to you, 

Never to resist the evil person: 
howbeit whoever slaps thee on thy 
right cheek, turn thou to him also the 
other. And to the one wishing to be 
judged with thee, and receive thy 
undergarment, acquit thou to him 
also the outcrgarment. And who- 
ever shall impress thee for one mile, 
retire thou in company with him two. 
To the one requesting of thee give 
thou; and from the one wishing to 
borrow from thee never mightest thou 
turn away. 

Ye heard that it was spoken, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour; and, 
Thou shalt hate thy enemy. 

But I, I say to you, 

Love ye your enemies, and pray on 
behalf of the ones pursuing you: to 
the intent that ye might become sons 
of your Father the one in the heavens; 
because he causes his sun to spring up 
over upon evil ones and good ones, 
and causes rain over upon righteous 
ones and unrighteous ones. For if 
assuredly ye might love the ones 
loving you, what hire have ye? are 
not even -the tax-collectors doing the 
same? And if assuredly ye might 
salute your brothers only, what are 
ye doing more abundant than others.' 
are not even the ones of the nations 
doing the same? Therefore ye, ye 
shall be perfect, as your heavenly 
Father is perfect. 



SCENE VI. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



Attend ye never to do your right- 
eousness in front of the humans unto 
the purpose to be gazed at by them: 
but if ye do otherwise, ye do not have 
hire beside your Father the one in the 
heavens. 

Therefore whenever thou mayest do 
mercifulness, never mightest thou 
trumpet in front of thee, as even the 
dissemblers do in the syagogues and 
in the streets, to the intent that they 
might be glorified under the humans. 
Amen I say to you, They secure their 
hire. But when thou art doing merci- 
fulness, never let thy left hand know 
what] thy right hand does: to the in- 
tent that thy mercifulness may be in 
the hidden thing; and thy Father 
the one beholding in the hidden thing 
will render to thee. 

And whenever ye may pray, ye 
shall not be as the dissemblers; be- 
cause they friendship to pray having 
stood in the synagogues and in the 
corners of the squares, to the intent 
that they might appear to the humans. 
Amen I say to you, They secure their 
hire. But thou, whenever thou 
mayest pray, enter thou into thy 
private room; and shut thou thy 
door and pray to thy Father the one 
in the hidden thing; and thy Father 
the one beholding in the hidden thing 
will render to thee. But never might 
ye, while praying, say the same thing 
over and over again, as even the ones 
of the nations: for they think that 
they shall be favourably heard in 
their much speaking. Therefore 
never might ye be likened to them: 
for the God your Father cognises 
what things ye have need of before 
the time for you to request of him. 
Therefore ye, pray ye thus: 

Our Father the one in the heavens, 
let thy name be sanctified. Let thy 
kingdom come. Let thy wish be 
made to become even over earth, as 
it is in heaven. Give thou to us to- 



day our needful bread. And acquit 
thou to us our debts, as also we, we 
acquitted to our debtors. And never 
mightest thou bring us along into 
temptation, howbeit deliver thou us 
from the Evil one. 

For if assuredly ye might acquit 
to the humans their trespasses, your 
heavenly Father will acquit also to 
you: but if assuredly ye might never 
acquit to the humans their trespasses, 
neither will your Father acquit your 
trespasses. 

But whenever ye may fast, never 
become ye, as the dissemblers, sad- 
countenanced: for they disfigure 
their faces, to the intent that they 
might appear to the humans to be 
fasting. Amen I say to you, They 
secure their hire. But thou, when 
fasting, oil thou for thyself thy head, 
and lave for thyself thy face; to the 
intent that thou mightest never 
appear to the humans to be fasting, 
howbeit to thy Father the one in the 
secreted thing; and thy Father the 
one beholding in the secreted thing 
will render to thee. 

Never treasure ye to you treasures 
over the earth, whither moth and 
rust disfigure, and whither thieves 
dig through and steal : but treasure 
ye to you treasures in heaven, 
whither neither moth nor rust dis- 
figure, and whither thieves do not dig 
through nor steal: for whither thy 
treasure is, there also thy heart will 
be. The lamp of the body is the eye: 
therefore if assuredly thy eye may 
be single, thy whole body shall be full 
of light. But if assuredly thy eye may 
be evil, thy whole body shall be full of 
darkness. Therefore if the light the 
one in thee is darkness, how dense is 
the darkness ! No one is able to bond- 
serve two lords: for either he will hate 
the one, and love the different one; 
or he will cling to one, and despise 
the different one. Ye are not able to 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT I. 



bondserve God and mamon. On 
this account I say to you. Never be 
ye anxious for your sen], what ye 
might eat, or what ye mighl drink; 
nor ever for your body, what ye 
might be clothed in. Is not the soul 
more than the nourishment, and the 
body than the clothing? Look ye 
intently at the birds of the heaven; 
because they do not sow, nor reap, 
nor gather into storehouses; and 
your heavenly Father nourishes them. 
Are ye not rather, ye, of more value 
than they? But who out of you by 
being anxious is able to add one cubit 
over upon his stature? And why 
are ye anxious concerning clothing? 
Learn ye the lesson from the lilies of 
the Held, how they grow; they do not 
labour, nor spin: but I say to you, 
that Not even Solomon in all his glory 
was arrayed as one of these. But if the 
God thus attires the grass of the field, 
to-day being, and to-morrow being 
east into an oven, will he not by much 
rather attire you, littlebelief ones? 
Therefore never might ye be anxious, 
saying, What might we eat, or what 
might we drink, or in what might we 
be arrayed? For after all these 
things the nations seek: for your 
heavenly Father cognises that ye 
need quite all these things. But seek 
it his kingdom and rightei tusness ; 
and all these things shall be added 
to you. Therefore never might ye 
be anxious into the to-morrow: for 
the to-morrow shall be anxious of 
itself. Enough t<» the day is its bad- 
ness. 

Never judge ye, in order that ye 
never mighl be judged. For in what 
judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; 
and in what measure ye measure, it 
shall l>e measured to you. Hut why 
beholdest thou the mote the one in 
thy brother's eve, but dost not con- 
template the beam in thy own eye? 
Or how will thou speak to thy brother, 



Acquit thou me, 1 will cast out the 
mote out of thy eye; and, lo, the 
beam is in thy own eye? Dissembler, 
first cast thou out the beam out of 
thy own eye; and then thou shalt 
behold clearly to cast out the mote 
out of thy brother's eye. 

Never might ye give the holy thing 
to the dogs, nor ever cast your pearls 
in front of the hogs, lest at any time 
they might trample them under their 
feet; and they might turn and rend you. 

Request ye, and it shall be given to 
you; seek ye, and ye shall find; knock 
ye, and it shall be opened to you: for 
everyone the one requesting receives; 
and the one seeking finds; and to the 
one knocking it shall be opened. Or 
what human is there out of you, of 
whom his son shall request bread, 
will he ever give over to him a stone? 
or shall he request also a fish, will he 
ever give over to him a serpent? 
Therefore if ye, being evil, ye cognise 
to give good gifts to your beams, by 
how much rather will your Father 
the one in the heavens give good 
things to the ones requesting of him? 
Therefore all things as many as as- 
suredly ye may wish in order that the 
humans may do to you, thus also ye, 
do ye to them: for this is the law and 
the prophets. 

Enter ye through the narrow ga^e ; 
because wide is the gate, and broad 
is the way, the one leading away into 
the destruction, and many are the 
mii-s entering through it; because 
narrow is the gate, and having been 
afflicted is the way, the one leading 
away into the life, and few are the 
ones finding it . 

Beware ye of the false prophets, 
whoever come unto you in sheep's 
clothing, but from within they are 
extortionous wolves. From their 
fruits ye shall fully know them. Do 
they ever at all collect grapes from 
thorns, or figs from thistles? Thus 



SCENE VI. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



9 



every good fruit-tree brings forth 
beautiful fruits; but the rotten fruit- 
tree brings forth evil fruits. A good 
fruit-tree is not able to bring forth 
evil fruits, neither is a rotten fruit- 
tree able to bring forth beautiful 
fruits. Every fruit-tree never bring- 
ing forth beautiful fruit is chopped 
out, and is cast into the fire. So then 
at least from their fruits ye shall 
fully know them Not everyone the 
one saying to me, Lord, Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of the heav- 
ens; howbeit the one doing the wish 
of my Father the one in the heavens. 
Many will speak to me in that day, 
Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in 
thy own name? and in thy own name 
cast out fiends? and in thy own name 
do many mighty works? And then 
I will confess to them, that I neither 
at any time knew you: retreat ye 
from me, the ones working the in- 
iquity. 

Therefore everyone whoever hears 
these words of mine, and does them, 
shall be likened to a prudent man, 
whoever built his dwelling over upon 
the rock: and the rain descended, 
and the rivers came, and the winds 
blew, and fell unto that dwelling; 
and it did not fall: for it had been 
foundatcd over upon the rock. And 
i me the one hearing these words 
of mine, and never doing them, shall 
be likened to a foolish man, whoever 
built his dwelling over upon the sand: 
and the rain descended, and the rivers 
came, and the winds blew, and stum- 
bled on that dwelling; and it fell: 
and the falling of it was great. 

Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
ended these words, the crowds were 
astounded upon his doctrine: for he 
was one teaching them as one having 
authority, and not as their scribes. 

ACT II. 
Scene i. A road in Galilee. Caper- 
naum. The lake. Gadara. 



/.'."'/. But when he descended from 
the mountain, many crowds followed 
him. And, lo, a leper approached 
and was worshipping him, saying, 

A leper. Lord, if assuredly thou 
mayest wish, thou art able to cleanse 
me. 

Levi. And he stretched out the 
hand and touched him, saying, 

Joshua. I wish it; be thou cleansed. 

Levi. And immediately his leprosy 
was cleansed. And Joshua says to 
him, 

Joshua. See thou, never mightest 
thou speak to one; howbeit retire 
thou, show thyself to the priest, and 
bring unto the present which Mosheh 
ordained, into a testimony to them. 

Levi. But when he entered into 
Capernaum, there came unto him a 
centurion, beseeching him, and say- 
ing, 

A centurion. Lord, my servant-hoy 
has been cast down in the dwelling 
paralysed, dreadfully tested. 

Levi. And he says to him, 

Joshua. I, I will come and cure 
him. 

Levi. But the centurion answered 
and was speaking, 

The centurion. Lord, I am not 
sufficient in order that thou mightest 
enter under my roof: howbeit only 
speak thou with a word, and my 
servant-hoy shall be healed. For 
also I, I am a htiman arranged under 
authority, having under myself sol- 
diers: and I say to this one, Go thou; 
and he goes: and to another, Come 
thou; and he comes: and to my bond- 
servant, Do thou this; and he does j£. 

Levi. But when Joshua heard it, 
he marvelled, and spoke to the ones 
following, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, Not 
even in Israel found I so much be- 
lief. But I say to you, that Many 
shall come from eastern regions and 
western regions, and shall accumb in 



10 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT II. 



company with Abraham, and Isaac, 
and Jacob, in the kingdom of the 
heavens: but the sons of the kingdom 
shall be cast#out into the outer dark- 
ness: there shall be the weeping and 
the gnashing of the teeth there. 

Levi. And Joshua spoke to the 
cenl uric >n , 

Joshua. Retire thou; as thou be- 
lievedst, let it be made to become to 

thee. 

Levi. And the servant-hoy was 

healed in that hour. 

And Joshua came into the dwelling 
of Peter and saw his mother-in-law 
having been cast down, and sick of a 
fever. And he touched her hand, 
and the fever acquitted her: and she 
arose, and was serving him. But 
when evening became, they brought 
unto him many ficndized ones: and 
he cast out the spirits with a word, 
and cured all the ones faring badly: 
to the intent that there might be ful- 
filled the thing spoken through Isaiah 
the prophet, saying, 

He himself received our infirmities, 
and carried our diseases. 

But Joshua saw crowds about him 
and bade to come away into the o1 her 
side. And one, a scribe, approached 
and spoke to him, 

A scribe. Teacher, I will follow 
thee whithersoever thou mayest come 
away. 

Levi. And Joshua says to him, 

Josliua. The foxes have burrows, 
and the birds of the heaven^ nest ; but 
the Son of the human does not have 
where he may couch the head. 

Levi. But a different one of the 
disciples spc >ke to him, 

A disciple. Lord, permit thou mc 
first to come away and bury my 

fat her. 

Levi. But Joshua says to him, 
Joshua. Follow thou me; and ac- 
quit the dead t<> bury their own dead. 
Levi. And when he embarked into 



the boat, his disciples followed him. 
And, lo, there became a great earth- 
quake in the sea, so as for the boat 
to be covered under the waves: but 
he himself was sleeping. And they 
approached and raised him up, say- 
ing, 

The disciples. Lord, save thou; 
we are being destroyed. 

Levi. And he says to them, 

Josliua. Why are ye cowardly, 
littlebelief ones? 

Levi. Then he arose and rebuked 
the winds and the sea; and there be- 
came a great calm. But the humans 
marvelled, saying, 

The disciples. What manner of man 
is this, that even the winds and the 
sea obey him? 

Levi. And when he came into the 
other side into the country of the 
Gaderenes, there met him two fiendized 
ones coming forth out of the tombs, 
exceedingly fierce, so as never to be 
mighty anyone for to pass by through 
that way. And, lo, they cried out, 
saying, 

The fiends. What have we to do 
with thee, Son of the God? earnest 
thou here to test us before the season? 

Levi. But there was far from them 
a herd of many hogs feeding. But 
the demons were beseeching him, 
saying, 

The demons. If thou castest us 
out, commission thou us into the herd 
of the hogs. 

Levi. And he spoke to them, 

Joshua. Retire ye. 

Levi. But the ones came out and 
came away into the hogs: and, lo, all 
the herd rushed down the precipice 
into the sea; and they died of! in the 
waters. But the ones feeding them 
lied; and they came away into the 
city and reported everything, and 
the things of the fiendized ones. And, 
lo, all the city came out into meeting 
Joshua: and when they saw him, they 



SCENE II. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



11 



besought him to the intent that he 
might pass on from their borders. 
Scene 2. Capernaum. 
Levi. And he embarked into a boat 
and crossed over, and came into his 
own city. And, lo, they were bring- 
ing unto him a paralytic, having been 
cast over a couch: and Joshua saw 
their belief and spoke to the paralytic, 
Joshua. Be thou of good cheer i 
beam; thy sins are acquitted. 

Levi. And, lo, certain of the scribes 
spoke in themselves, 

Certain scribes. This one defames. 

Levi. And Joshua saw their de- 
vices and spoke, 

Joshua. To what purpose devise 
ye evil things in your hearts? For 
which is easier, to speak, Thy sins are 
acquitted; or to speak, Arise thou, and 
walk? But in order that ye may cog- 
nise that the Son of the human has 
authority over the earth to acquit 
sins (Levi. Then he says to the 
paralytic), Arise thou and take tip 
thy couch, and retire into thy house. 

Levi. And he arose and came away 
into his house. But when the crowds 
saw it. they feared, and glorified the 
God, the one who gave such authority 
to the humans. 

And Joshua passes along thence 
and saw a human, denominated 
Maththew, sitting over upon the tax- 
office; and he says to him, 

Joshua. Follow thou me. 

Levi. And he stood up and followed 
him. And it became, as he is re- 
clining at tabic in the dwelling, lo, 
even many tax-collectors and sinners 
came and were reclining with Joshua 
and his disciples. And the Pharisees 
saw it and were saying to his, disciples, 

The Pharisees. On what account 
does your Teacher eat in company 
with the tax-collectors and sinners? 

Levi. But the one heard it and 
spoke, 

Joshua. The ones being mighty do 



not have need of a physician, how- 
beit the ones faring badly. But go 
ye and learn what this is, I wish 
mercy, and not sacrifice: for I did not 
come to call righteous ones, howbeit 
sinners. 

Levi. Then the disciples of Johanan 
come unto him, saying, 

Johanan's disciples. On what ac- 
count do we and the Pharisees, we 
fast, but thy disciples do not fast? 

Levi. And Joshua spoke to them, 

Joshua. Are the sons of the bride- 
chamber ever able to mourn, as long 
a% the bridegroom is in company with 
them? but days shall come, when- 
ever the bridegroom might be borne 
away from them, and then they will 
fast. But no one pieces a piece of 
unfulled cloth upon an old garment: 
for its fulness takes from the gar- 
ment, and a worse division becomes. 
Neither do they put fresh wine into 
old skin-bottles: but if they do other- 
wise, the skin-bottles arc rent, and 
the wine is poured out, and the skin- 
bottles are destroyed: howbeit they 
put fresh wine into new skin-bottles, 
and both are preserved. 

Levi. While he is talking these 
things to them.lo.a ruler approached 
and was worshipping him, saying, 
that 

A ruler. My daughter at present 
deceased; howbeit come thou and 
place thy hand over upon her, and 
she shall live. 

Levi. And Joshua arose and fol- 
lowed him, and so did his disciples'. 
And, lo, a woman, having an issue of 
blood twelve years, approached from 
behind and touched the hem of his 
garment: for she was saying in her- 
self. 

A woman. If assuredly I might 
only touch his garment, I shall be 
saved. 

Levi. But Joshua turned, and saw 
her, and spoke, 



12 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT II. 



Joshua. Be thou of good cheer, 
daughter; thy belief has saved thee. 
Levi. And the woman was saved 
from that hour. And when Joshua 
came into the ruin's dwelling, and 
saw the pipers, and the crowd making 
an uproar, he was saying, 

Joshua. Withdraw ye : for the maid- 
en did not die off, howbeit she is sleep- 
ing. 

Levi. And they were laughing at 
him. But when the crowd was cast 
out, he entered in and took hold of 
her hand, and the maiden arose. And 
this repute came out into that whore 
land. 

And when Joshua is passing along 
thence, two blind men followed him, 
crying out, and saying, 

■ blind men. Have thou mercy 
on us, Son of David. 

Levi. But when he came into the 
dwelling, the blind men came unto 
him: and Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. Believe ye that I am able 
to do this? 

Levi. They say to him, 
The two blind men. Yes, Lord. 
Levi. Then he touched their eyes, 
saying, 

Joshua. According to your belief 
let it be made to become to you. 

Levi. And their eyes were opened. 
And Joshua strictly charged them, 
saying, 

Joshua. Sec ye, never let one 
know it. 

Levi. But the ones came out and 
thoroughly spoke of him in that 
wh( ile land. 

But as tluy are coming out, lo, 
they brought unto him a dumb man 
fiendized. And when the fiend was 
cast out, tin 1 dumb ;;;.;;/ talked: and 
the crowds marvelled, saying, 

The crowds. It neither at any time 
appeared thus in Israel. 

Levi, but Hi.- Pharisees were say- 
ing, 



The Pharisees. He casts out the 
fiends by the ruler of the fiends. 
Scbne 3. Cities and villages and a 
mountain of Galilee. 
Levi. And Joshua was leading on 
about all the cities and the villages, 
teaching in their synagogues, and 
heralding the glad tidings of the 
kingdom, and curing every disease 
and every illness. But when he saw 
the crowds, he was moved with pity 
concerning them; because they were 
having been harassed and hurled 
down, as if sheep never having a 
shepherd. Then he says to his 
disciples, 

Joshua. The harvest indeed is im- 
mense, but the w r orkers are few: 
therefore supplicate ye the Lord of 
the harvest, to the intent that he might 
cast out workers into his harvest. 

Levi. And he called unto him his 
twelve disciples and gave to them 
authority over unclean spirits, so as 
to cast them out, and to cure every 
disease and every illness. But the 
names of the twelve commissioners 
are these: 

The first, Simon, the one denomi- 
nated Petros [Peter], and Andreas 
[Andrew] his brother; 

and Jacob the son of Zebedec, and 
J oh an an his brother; 

Philip and Bartholomew; 
Thomas, and Maththew [Levi Ben- 
lialpai] the tax-collector; 

Jacob the son of Halpai, and Thad- 
deus ; 

Simon the Canana?an [Zealot], and 
Judah Iscariot, the one who even de- 
livered him up. These the twelve 
Joshua commissioned, and charged 
them, saying, 

Joshua. Never might ye come away 
into a way of the nations, and never 
might ye enter into a city of Samari- 
tans: but go ye rather unto the sheep 
the ones having been destroyed of the 
house of Israel. But as ye are going, 



SCENE III. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



13 



herald, saying, that The kingdom of 
the heavens has neared. Cure ye 
ones being sick, raise dead ones, 
cleanse lepers, cast out fiends: gratu- 
itously ye received, gratuitously give. 
Never might ye possess gold, nor ever 
silver, nor ever copper, into your 
girdles; never a pouch into the way, 
nor ever two undergarments, nor ever 
shoes, nor ever a staff: for the worker 
is worthy of his nourishment. But 
into whatsoever city or village ye 
might enter, investigate who in it is 
worthy; and abide ye there until 
assuredly ye might come out thence. 
But when ye are entering into the 
dwelling salute it. And if assuredly 
the dwelling may indeed be worthy, 
let your peace come over upon it: but 
if assuredly it may never be worthy, 
let your peace return over upon you. 
And whoso might never accept you, 
nor ever hear your words, when ye 
are coming forth without that dwell- 
ing or city, shake out the dust of your 
feet. Amen I say to you, It shall be 
more forbearable for the land of 
Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of 
judging, than for that city. 

Lo, I, I commission you as sheep 
in the midst of wolves: therefore be- 
come ye prudent as the serpents, and 
unmixed as the doves. But beware 
ye of the humans: for they will de- 
liver you up into councils, and they 
will scourge you in their synagogues; 
but ye shall be led also over upon 
governors and kings for my sake, 
into a testimony to them and to the 
nations. But whenever they might 
deliver you up, never might ye be 
anxious how or what ye might talk: 
for it shall be given to you in that 
hour what ye might talk. For ye, 
ye, are not the ones talking, howbeit 
it is the Spirit of your Father the one 
talking in you. But a brother will 
deliver up a brother into death, and 
a father a beam; and beams will 



stand up in rebellion over upon 
parents, and put them to death. 
And ye shall be ones hated under all 
on account of my name: but the one 
who endured into the end, this one 
shall be saved. But whenever they may 
pursue you in this city, flee ye into 
the different one: for amen I say to 
you, Ye might not ever end the cities 
of Israel, until the Son of the human 
might come. 

A disciple is not above the teacher, 
nor a bondservant above his lord. 
It is enough for the disciple in order 
that he might become as his teacher, 
and the bondservant as his lord. If 
they surnamed the master of the house 
Beelzebul, by how much rather will 
they surname his household ones? 
Therefore never might ye fear them: 
for there is nothing having been cov- 
ered, which shall not be revealed; and 
hid, which shall not be known. That 
which I say to you in the dark, speak 
ye in the light: and that which ye 
hear into the ear, herald ye over the 
housetops. And never fear ye from 
the ones killing the body, but never 
being able to kill the soul: but rather 
fear ye the one being able to destroy 
both soul and body in Gehenna. Are 
not two sparrows sold for an assarius ? 
and one out of them shall not fall 
over upon the earth apart from your 
Father. But even the hairs of your 
head are all having been numbered. 
Therefore never fear ye; ye are of 
more value than many sparrows. 
Therefore everyone whoever shall 
confess that he is in me in front of the 
humans, also I, I will confess that I 
am in him in front of my Father the 
one in the heavens. But whoever 
assuredly might deny me in front of 
the humans, also I, I will deny him 
in front of m^ T Father the one in the 
heavens. 

Never might ye deem that I came 
to cast peace over upon the earth: I 



14 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT II. 



did not come to cast peace, howbeit 
a sword. For I came to divide in two 
a human against his father, and a 
daughter against her mother, and a 
daughter-in-law against her mother- 
in-law: and the human's enemies shall 
be his household ones. The one friend- 
shipping father or mother above me 
is not worthy of me; and the one 
friendshipping son or daughter above 
me is not worthy of me. And he who 
does not receive his cross, and follow 
behind me is not worthy of me. The 
one who found his soul shall destroy 
it: and the one who destroyed his soul 
for my sake shall find it. 

The one accepting you accepts me, 
and the one accepting me accepts the 
one who commissioned me. The one 
accepting a prophet into the name of 
a prophet shall receive a prophet's 
hire; and the one accepting a right- 
eous one into the name of a righteous 
one shall receive a righteous one's hire. 
And whosoever might cause one of 
these little ones to drink a cup of cool 
water only, into the name of a disciple, 
amen I say to you, he might not ever 
destroy his hire. 

Scene 4. The cities of Galilee. 

Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
ended regulating to his twelve dis- 
ciples, he passed on thence for to 
teach and herald in their cities. 

But when Johanan heard in the jail 
the works of the Messiah, he sent 
through his disciples, and spoke to 
him, 

Johanan's disciples. Thou, art thou 
the one coming, or may we expect a 
different onel 

Levi. And Joshua answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Go ye and report to Joha- 
nan what things ye hear and behold: 
blind ones receive sight, and lame 
walk; lepers are cleansed, and 
deaf ones hear; and dead ones are 
raised up; and poor ones have the 



glad tidings announced to them. And 
happy is he, whosoever might never 
be entrapped in me. 

Levi. But while these are going, 
Joshua began to say to the crowds 
concerning Johanan, 

Joshua. What came ye out into 
the wilderness to gaze at? a reed 
shaken under the wind? Howbeit 
what came ye out to see? a human 
having been attired in soft clothes? 
Lo, the ones wearing the soft clothes 
arc in the houses of the kings. How- 
beit what came ye out for? to see a 
prophet? Yes, I say to you, and 
more abundantly than a prophet. 
This is he, concerning whom it has 
been written, Lo, I, I commission my 
messenger before thy face, who shall 
furnish thy way in front of thee. 
Amen I say to you, There' has not 
arisen among ones begotten of women 
a greater than Johanan the immerser: 
but the least one in the kingdom of 
the heavens is greater than he. But 
from the days of Johanan the im- 
merser until at present the kingdom 
of the heavens suffers violence, and 
violent ones snatch it away For all 
the prophets and the law prophesied 
until Johanan: and if ye wish to ac- 
cept him, he himself is Elijah, the 
one being about to come. The one 
having ears to hear, let him hear. 

But to what shall I liken this gen- 
eration? It is like to children sitting 
in the markets, who voice unto the 
different ones, and say, We piped to 
you, and ye did not dance; we la- 
mented, and ye did not bewail. For 
Johanan came neither eating nor 
drinking, and they say, He has a 
fiend. The Son of the human came 
eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, 
a gluttonous human, and a wine- 
drinker, a friend of tax-collectors and 
sinners! And wisdom was justified 
from her works. 

Levi. Then he began to reproach 



SCENE V. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



15 



the cities in which the most of his 
mighty works became; because they 
did not reconsider. 

Joshua. Woe to thee, Chorazin! 
woe to thee, Bcthsaida! because' if 
there became in Tyre and Sidon 
the mighty works the ones which 
became in you, they assuredly re- 
considered of old in sackcloth and 
ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, 
It shall be more forbearable for Tyre 
and Sidon in the day of judging, than 
for you. And thou Capernaum* 
shalt thou ever be exalted unto 
heaven? Thou shalt be caused to 
descend unto the grave ; because if there 
were made to become in Sodom the 
mighty works the ones which became 
in thee, it assuredly abode up to this 
very day. Nevertheless I say to you, 
that It shall be more forbearable for 
the land of Sodom in the day of judg- 
ing, than for thee. 

Levi. In that season Joshua an- 
swered and spoke, 

Joshua. I confess out to thee, 
Father, Lord of the heaven and the 
earth; because thou hiddest these 
things from wise and understanding 
ones, and thou revealedst them to in- 
fants. Yes, the Father; because thus 
it became wellthought in front of 
thee. All things were delivered up to 
me under my Father: and no one 
fully knows the Son, except the Father; 
neither does anyone fully know the 
Father, except the Son, and he to 
whomsoever the Son may intend to 
reveal him. Hither ye unto me, all 
the ones labouring and having been 
burdened, and I, I will repose you. 
Take ye my yoke over upon you, and 
learn from me ; because I am meek 
and lowly in the heart: and ye shall 
find repose to your souls. For my 
yoke is kind, and my burden is light. 
Scene 5. Grainfields. A synagogue. 
Galilee. 

Levi. In that season Joshua went 



on the sabbath day through the grain- 
fields; but his disciples hungered, and 
began to pluck heads of grain, and to 
eat. But the Pharisees saw it and 
spoke to him, 

The Pharisees. Lo, thy disciples do 
that which it is not authorised to do 
in the sabbath. 

Levi. But the one spoke to them, 

Joshua. Did ye not read what 
David did, when he hungered, and 
the ones in company with him; how 
lie entered into the house of the God, 
and they ate the shewbread, which 
it was not an authorised thing for him 
to eat, neither for the ones in com- 
pany with him, except for the priests 
alone? Or did ye not read in the law, 
that on the sabbath day the priests in 
the temple profane the sabbath, and 
are guiltless? But I say to you, that 
One greater than the temple is here. 
But if ye had known what this is, I ' 
wish mercy, and not sacrifice, ye 
assuredly did not proscribe the guilt- 
less. For the Son of the human is 
Lord of the sabbath. 

Levi. And he passed on thence and 
came into their synagogue: and, lo, 
there was a human having a withered 
hand. And they interrogated him, 
saying, 

The Pharisees. Whether is it au- 
thorised to cure on the sabbath dayf 

Levi. In order that they might 
accuse him. But the one spoke to 
them, 

Joshua. What human shall there 
be out of you, who shall have one 
sheep, and if assuredly this might fall 
over into a ditch on the sabbath day, 
will he not lay hold on it, and raise it 
up? Therefore by how much is a 
human of more value than a sheep! 
So that it is authorised to do beauti- 
fully on the' sabbath day. 

Levi. Then he says to the human, 

Joshua. Stretch thou out thy hand. 

Levi. And he stretched it out; and 



16 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT II. 



it was restored sound, as the other. 
But the Pharisees came out and re- 
ceived consultation against him, to 
the intent that they might destroy 
him. But Joshua knew it a>id with- 
drew thence: and many followed him, 
and he cured them all; and he rebuked 
them, in order that they never might 
make him manifest: in order that 
tlicrc might be fulfilled the thing 
spoken through Isaiah the prophet, 
saying, 

Lo, my boy whom I preferred; 
my beloved in whom my soul well- 
thought: I will place my Spirit over 
upon him, and he will report judging 
to the nations. He will not strive, 
nor clamour; neither shall anyone 
hear his voice in the squares. A 
reed having been crushed he will not 
fracture, and smoking flax he will not 
quench, until assuredly he might cast 
out the judging into victory. And in 
his name the nations shall hope. 

Then there was brought unto him 
one fiendized, blind and dumb: and 
he cured him, so as for the dumb one 
to talk' and behold. And all the 
crowds were astonished, and were 
saying, 

The crowds. Is this one ever at all 
the Son of David? 

Levi. But the Pharisees heard it 
and spoke, 

The Pharisees. This one does not 
cast out the fiends, except by the Beel- 
zebul the ruler of the fiends. 

Levi. But he, cognising their de- 
vices, spoke to them, 

Joshua. Every kingdom parted 
against itself is desolated; and every 
city or dwelling parted against itself 
shall not be made to stand. And if 
the Satan casts out the Satan, he was 
parted over upon himself; therefore 
how shall his kingdom be made to 
stand? And if I, I by Beelzcbul cast 
out the funds, by whom do your sons 
cast them out? on this account they 



themselves shall be your judges. But 
if I by the Spirit of God, I cast out the 
fiends, so then the kingdom of the 
God anticipated over upon you. Or 
how is anyone able to enter into the 
dwelling of the mighty one, and 
plunder his vessels, except assuredly 
he might first bind the mighty one? 
and then he will plunder his dwelling. 
The o-ne never being in company with 
me is against me; and the one never 
gathering in company with me scat- 
ters. On this account I say to you, 
All sin and defamation shall be ac- 
quitted to the humans; but the defa- 
mation of the Spirit shall not be ac- 
quitted. And whosoever might speak 
a word against the Son of the human, 
it shall be acquitted to him: but who- 
soever might speak against the Holy 
Spirit, it shall not ever be acquitted 
to him, neither in this age, nor in the 
one about to be. Either make ye the 
fruit-tree beautiful, and its fruit 
beautiful; or make the fruit-tree 
rotten, and its fruit rotten: for the 
fruit-tree is known out of the fruit. 
Progeny of vipers, how are ye, being 
evil, able to talk good things ? for out of 
the abundance of the heart the mouth 
talks. The good human out of the 
good treasure casts out the good 
things; and the evil human out of the 
evil treasure casts out evil things. 
But I say to you, that Every idle say. 
ing which the humans shall talk, they 
shall render account concerning it in 
the day of judging. For out of thy 
words thou shalt be justified, and out of 
thy words thou shalt be proscribed. 

Levi. Then certain of the scribes 
and Pharisees answered him, saying, 

Certain scribes & Pharisees. Teacher, 
we wish to see a sign from thee. 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. An evil and adulterous 
generation seeks after a sign; and a 
sign shall not. be given to it, except 



SCENE V. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



17 



the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as 
even Jonah was in the belly of the 
sea-monster three days and three 
nights; thus shall the Son of the 
human be in the heart of the earth 
three days and three nights. The 
men of Nineveh shall stand up in the 
judging in company with this gener- 
ation, and condemn it; because they 
reconsidered into the proclamation 
of Jonah; and, lo, more than Jonah 
is here. The queen of the south 
shall arise in the judging in company 
with this generation, and condemn it; 
because she came out of the utter- 
most parts of the earth to hear the 
wisdom of Solomon; and, lo, more 
than Soloman is here. But when- 
ever the unclean spirit might come 
out from the human, it comes across 
through unwatered places, seeking re- 
pose, and does not find it. Then it 
says, I will return into my house 
whence I came out; and when it came, 
it finds it vacant, having been swept, 
and having been adorned. Then it 
goes, and receives along in company 
with itself seven different spirits more 
evil than itself, and they entered in 
and reside there; and the last things 
of that human become worse than 
the first. Thus it shall be also to 
this evil generation. 

Levi. While he is yet talking to the 
crowds, lo, his mother and his brothers 
had stood without, seeking to talk to 
him. But the one answered and 
spoke to the one telling him, 

Joshua. Who is my mother? and 
who are my brothers? 

Levi. And he stretched out his hand 
over upon his disciples and spoke, 

Joshua. Lo, my mother and my 
brothers! For whoever assuredly 
might do the wish of my Father the 
one in the heavens, he himself is my 
brother, and sister, and mother. 
ACT III. 
Scene i. The Lake of Galilee. 



Levi. In that day Joshua came 
forth out of the dwelling and was sit- 
ting by the sea side. And many 
crowds were gathered unto him, so 
as for him to embark into a boat and 
sit; and all the crowd had stood over 
upon the shore. And he talked many 
things to them in comparisons, say- 
ing. 

Joshua. Lo, the one sowing came 
out for to sow; and in the time for 
him to sow, some seeds indeed fell by 
the wayside; and the birds came and 
devoured them. But others fell 
over upon the rocky places, whither 
they were not having much earth; 
and immediately they sprang up out 
of it, on account of the fact for them 
never to have depth of earth; but 
when the sun sprang up, they were 
scorched ; and on account of the fact 
for them never to have root, they 
withered away. But others fell 
over upon the thorns; and the 
thorns ascended, and choked them 
off. But others fell over upon the 
beautiful earth; and they were giving 
fruit, some indeed a hundred-fo/d, but 
some sixty, but some thirty. The one 
having ears, let him hear. 

Levi. And the disciples approached 
tun! spoke to him, 

The disciples. On what account 
talkest thou to them in comparisons? 

Levi. But the one answered, and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Because to you it has been 
given to know the secrets of the king- 
dom of the heavens; but to those it 
has not been given. For whoever has, 
there shall be given to him, and he shall 
be made to abound: but whoever does 
not have, even that which he has shall 
be taken from him. On this account 
I talk to them in comparisons; be- 
cause they beholding do not behold; 
and they hearing do not hear, neither 
do they understand. And by them 
the prophecy of Isaiah is supplemented, 



18 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT III. 



the one saying, 

With hearing ye shall hear, and 
might not ever understand; and ye 
beholding shall behold, and might not 
ever see: for this people's heart be- 
canie gross, and with the ears they 
heard heavily, and their eyes they 
closed; lest at any time they might 
see with the eyes, and might hear with 
the ears, and might understand with 
the heart, and might return, and I 
shall heal them. 

But happy are your eyes, because 
they behold; and your ears, because 
they hear. For amen I say to you^ 
that Many prophets and righteous 
ones desired to see the things which 
ye behold, and they did not see them; 
and to hear the things which ye 
hear, and they did not hear them. 
Therefore ye, hear ye the comparison 
of the one who sowed: 

When anyone is hearing the word 
of the kingdom, and is never under- 
standing it, the Evil one comes and 
snatches away the thing having been 
sown in his heart: this is the one 
sown by the way side. But the one 
sown over upon the rocky places, this 
is the one hearing the word, and 
straightway in company with joy re- 
ceiving it; but he does not have root 
in himself, howbeit he is temporary; 
but when affliction or pursuing be- 
came on account of the word, straight- 
way he is entrapped. But the one 
sown into the thorns, this is the one 
hearing the word; and the anxiety 
of the age, and the deceitfulness of 
the riches, choke the word, and he 
becomes unfruitful. But the one sown 
oyer upon the beautiful earth, this 
is the one hearing the word, and un- 
derstanding it; who forsooth bears 
fruit, and brings forth, some indeed 
a hundred- j old, but some sixty, but 
some thirty. 

Levi. Another comparison he placed 
beside them, saying, 



Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
ens was likened to a human w}io 
sowed beautiful seed in his field: but 
in the time for the humans to sleep, his 
enemy came and oversowed tares 
amidst the wheat, and came away. 
But when the grass budded, and 
brought forth fruit, then also the 
tares appeared. But the bondservants 
of the master of the house approached 
and spoke to him, 

The bondservants. Lord, didst thou 
not sow beautiful seed in thy own 
field? therefore from whence has it 
tares? 

Joshua. But the one was speaking 
to them, 

The master. Some enemy did this. 

Joshua. But the bondservants say 
to him, 

The bondservants. Therefore wishest 
thou that we might come away and 
collect them? 

Joshua. But the one spoke, 

The master. No; lest at any time, 
while collecting the tares, ye might 
root out at the same time with them 
the wheat. Acquit ye both to grow 
together up to the harvest: and in 
the season of the harvest I will speak 
to the harvesters, Collect ye first the 
tares, and bind them into bundles 
unto the purpose to burn them up: 
but gather ye the wheat into my 
storehouse. 

Levi. Another comparison he placed 
beside them, saying, 

Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
ens is like to a grain of mustard seed, 
which a human received and sowed 
in his field: which is a less one indeed 
of all the seeds; but whenever it 
might be grown, it is a greater one 
of the vegetables, and becomes a 
fruit-tree, so as for the birds of the 
heaven to come and make their nests 
in its branches. 

Levi. Another comparison he talked 
to them, 



scene nr. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



19 



Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
ens is like to leaven, which a woman 
received and hid in into three seahs 
[measures] of flour, until what time 
the whole was leavened. 

Levi, All these things Joshua talked 
in comparisons to the crowds; and 
without a comparison he was not 
talking one thing to them: to the 
intent that there might be fulfilled 
the thing spoken through the prophet, 
saying, 

I will open my mouth in compari- 
sons, I will utter things having been 
hid from the evolution of the world. 
Scene 2. Capernaum. 

Levi. Then he acquitted the crowds 
and came into the dwelling: and his 
disciples came unto him, saying, 

The disciples. Explain thou to us 
the comparison of the tares of the 
field. 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. The one sowing the beau- 
tiful seed is the Son of the human; 
but the field is the world; but the 
beautiful seed, these are the sons of 
the kingdom; but the tares are the 
sons of the Evil one; but the enemy 
the one who sowed them is the devil; 
but the harvest is the consummation 
of the age; but the harvesters arc 
angels. Therefore as even the tares 
arc collected and burned up with 
fire; thus it shall be in the consum- 
mation of the age. The Son of the 
human will commission his angels, 
and they shall collect out of his 
kingdom all the traps, and the ones 
doing the iniquity; and they shall 
cast them into the furnace of fire: 
there shall be the weeping and the 
gnashing of the teeth there. Then the 
righteous shall shine forth as the sun 
in the kingdom of their Father. The 
one having ears, let him hear. 

The kingdom of the heavens is like 
to a treasure having been hid in the 



field; which a human found and hid; 
and from his joy he retires and sells 
all things as many as he has, and 
buys that field. 

Again, the kingdom of the heavens 
is like to a merchant seeking beauti- 
ful pearls: but when he found one very 
precious pearl, he came away and has 
bartered all things as many as he was 
having, and bought it. 

Again, the kingdom of the heavens 
is like to a seine, which was cast into 
the sea, and gathered out of every kind : 
which, when it was filled full, they 
drew up over upon the shore, and sat 
down, and collected the beautiful into 
pails, but the rotten they cast without. 
Thus it shall be in the consummation 
of the age: the angels shall come 
forth, and set apart the evil out of the 
midst of the righteous, and shall cast 
them into the furnace of fire: there 
shall be the weeping and the gnash- 
ing of the teeth there. 

Understood ye all these things? 

Levi. They say to him, 

The disciples. Yes. 

Levi. But the one spoke to them, 

Joshua. On this account every 
scribe, who was discipled to the king- 
dom of the heavens, is like to a hu- 
man a master of a house, whoever 
casts forth out of his treasure new 
things and old things. 
Scene 3. Nazareth. A synagogue. 
Capernaum. 

Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
ended these comparisons, he migrated 
thence. And he came into his father- 
land and was teaching them in their 
synagogue, so as for them to be 
astounded, and say, 

The Nazarenes. From whence is to 
this one this wisdom, and the mighty 
works? Is not this the carpenter's 
son? is not his mother denominated 
Miriam? and his brothers, Jacob, and 
Joseph, and Simon, and Judah? 
And his sisters, are they not all with 



20 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT III. 



us? Therefore from whence are to 
this one all these things? 

Levi. And they were entrapped in 
him. But Joshua spoke to them, 

Joshua. A prophet is not un- 
honourcd, except in his own father- 
land, and in his dwelling. 

Levi. And he did not do many 
mighty works there on account of 
"heir unbelief. 

In that season Herod the tetrarch 
heard of the fame of Joshua, and 
spoke to his servant-boys, 

Herod the tetrarch. This is Johanan 
the immerser; he himself arose from 
the dead; and on this account the 
mighty works in work in him. 

Levi. For Herod laid hold on Jo- 
hanan and bound him, and placed 
him away in guard on account of 
Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 
For Johanan was saying to him, 

Johanan. It is not authorised for 
thee to have her. 

Levi. And when he is wishing to 
kill him, he feared the crowd; be- 
cause they were esteeming him as a 
prophet. But when Herod's birth- 
day festivities became, the daughter 
of Herodias danced in the middle 
space, and pleased Herod. Whence 
he confessed in company with an 
oath to give to her whatsoever she 
might request for herself. But the 
girl, instigated under her mother, 
speaks, 

Herodias' daughter. Give thou to 
me here upon a plate the head of 
Johanan the immerser. 

Levi. And the king was grieved; 
but on account of the oaths, and the 
ones reclining with him at tabic, he 
bade it to be given. And he sent and 
beheaded Johanan in the guard. 
And his head was brought upon a 
plate, and was given to the maiden: 
and she brought it to her mother. 
And his disciples approached and 
took up the corpse, and buried him; 



and they came and reported it to 
Joshua. 

Scene 4. The lake of Galilee. Gcn- 
nesaret. 

Levi. But when Joshua heard it, he 
withdrew thence in a boat into a 
desert place apart: and the crowds 
heard of it and followed him on foot 
from the cities. And he came out 
and saw an immense crowd, and was 
moved with pity upon them, and 
cured their sick. But when evening 
became, the disciples came unto him, 
saying, 

The disciples. The place is desert, 
and the noon-hour already passed by; 
release thou the crowds, in order that 
they might come away into the vil- 
lages and buy for themselves victuals. 

Levi. But Joshua spoke to them, 

Joshua. They do not have need to 
come away; give ye to them, ye, to 
cat. 

Levi. But the ones say to him, 

The disciples. We are not having 
anything here, except five loaves of 
bread, and two fishes. 

Levi. But the one spoke, 

Joshua. Bring ye them here to me. 

Levi. And he bade the crowds to 
accumb over the grass, and he re- 
ceived the five loaves of bread, and 
the two fishes, and looked up into the 
heaven and blessed them; and he broke 
the loaves of bread and gave to the 
disciples, but the disciples to the 
crowds. And they all ate, and were 
sufficed: and they took up the over- 
abounding of the broken pieces, 
twelve baskets full. But the ones 
eating were about five thousand men, 
without counting women and children. 

And immediately he compelled his 
disciples to embark into the boat, and 
to lead before him into the other side, 
until what time he might release the 
crowds. And when he released the 
crowds, he ascended into the mount- 
ain apart to pray: but when evening 



SCENE IV. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



21 



became, he was there alone. But 
the boat was already in the midst of 
the sea, tested under the waves: for 
the wind was contrary. But in the 
fourth guard of the night he came 
unto them, walking over upon the sea. 
But when the disciples saw him walk- 
ing over the sea, they were troubled, 
saying, that 

The disciples. It is a ghost. 

Levi. And they cried out from fear. 
But straightway Joshua talked to 
them, saying, 

'Joshua. Be ye of good cheer; I, I 
am he; never fear ye. 

Levi. But Peter answered him and 
spoke, 

Peter. Lord, if thou, thou art he, 
bid thou me to come unto thee over 
upon the waters. 

Levi. But the one spoke, 

Joshua. Come thou. 

Levi. And Peter descended from 
the boat and walked over upon the 
waters, to come unto Joshua. But 
when he is beholding the wind, he 
feared; and as he began to drown, he 
cried out, saying, 

Peter. Lord, save thou me. 

Levi. But immediately Joshua 
stretched out the hand and received 
hold of him, and says to him, 

Joshua. Littlcbclief one, into what 
end hesitatedst thou? 

Levi. And when they ascended into 
the boat, the wind assuaged. But 
tin ones in t he boat worshipped him, 
saying. 

The disci pics. Truly thou art God's 
Son. 

Levi. And they crossed over and 
came over upon the land into Gen- 
nesaret. And the men of that 
place recognised him and commis- 
sioned into that whole country round 
about, and brought unto him all the 
ones faring badly; and they were 
beseeching him in order that they 
plight only touch the hem of his 



garment; and as many as touched 
him were thoroughly saved. 

Then there come unto Joshua from 
Ilicrosoluma Pharisees and scribes, 
saying, 

Pharisees & scribes. On what ac- 
count do thy disciples transgress 
the tradition of the elders? for they 
do not lave the hands whenever they 
may eat bread. 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. On what account do ye, 
also ye, transgress the commandment 
of the God on account of your tradi- 
tion? For the God commanded, say- 
ing, Honour thou the father and the 
mother: and, The one saying bad of 
father or mother, let him decease with 
death. But ye, ye say, Whoso might 
speak to the father or to the mother, 
It is a present, by whatsoever thou 
mightest be profited out of me; he 
might not ever honour his father. 
And ye unratified the word of the 
God on account of your tradition. 
Dissemblers, beautifully did Isaiah 
prophesy concerning you, saying, 

This people honours me with the 
lips; but their heart is very far away 
from me. But in vain they reverence 
me, teaching as teachings the com- 
mands of humans. 

Levi. And he called unto him the 
crowd and spoke to them, 

Joshua. Hear ye, and understand: 
Not the thing entering into the mouth 
degrades the human; howbeit the 
thing going forth out of the mouth, 
this degrades the human. 

Levi. Then the disciples approached 
and spoke to him, 

The disciples. Cognisest thou that 
the Pharisees were entrapped, when 
they heard the word ? 

Levi. But the one answered and 

Spoke, 

Joshua. Every plant, which my 
heavenly Father did not plant, shall 



22 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT III, 



be rooted out. Acquit ye them: they 
are blind guides. But if assuredly 
a blind person may guide a blind per- 
son, both shall fall into a ditch. 

Levi. But Peter answered and spoke 
to him, 

Peter. Point thou out to us the 
comparison. 

Levi. But the one spoke, 
Joshua. Are ye, also ye, still with- 
out understanding? Do ye not yet 
consider, that everything the thing 
going in into the mouth passes along 
into the belly, and is cast out into the 
draught? But the things going forth 
out of the mouth come forth out of 
the heart; and those degrade the 
human. For out of the heart come 
forth evil reasonings, murders, adul- 
teries, whoredoms, thefts, falsewit- 
nessings, defamations: these are the 
things degrading the human: but 
the fact to eat with unlaved hands 
does not degrade the human. 
Scene 5. The borders of Tyre and 
Sidon. 
Levi. And Joshua came out thence 
and withdrew into the parts of Tyre 
and Sidon. And, lo, a woman a 
Canaanitess came out from those 
borders and cried out, saying, 

A Canaanitess. Have thou mercy 
on me, Lord, Son of David; my 
daughter is badly fiendized. 

Levi. But the one did not answer 
her a word. And his disciples ap- 
proached and were asking him, say- 
ing, 

The disciples. Release thou her; 
because she cries out from behind us. 
Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. I was not commissioned 
except into the sheep the ones having 
been destroyed of the house of Israi 1 
Levi. But the woman came and was 
worshipping him, saying, 

The Canaanitess. Lord, help thou 
me. 



Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. It is not beautiful to re- 
ceive the beams' bread and cast it 
to the little dogs. 

Levi. But the woman spoke, 
The Canaanitess. Yes, Lord: for 
even the little dogs eat from the 
crumbs the ones falling from their 
lords' table. 

Levi. Then Joshua answered and 
spoke to her, 

Joshua. O woman, great is thy be- 
lief: let it be made to become to 
thee as thou wishest. 

Levi. And her daughter was healed 
from that hour. 

Scene 6. A mountain near the lake of 
Galilee. 
Levi. And Joshua passed on thence 
and came by the side of the sea of 
Galilee; and he ascended into the 
mountain and was sitting there. And 
many crowds came unto him, having 
in company with themselves lame, 
blind, maimed, dumb, and many 
different ones, and hurled them down 
beside his feet; and he cured them: 
so as for the crowds to marvel, be- 
holding dumb ones talking, maimed 
ones sound, and lame ones walking, 
and blind ones beholding: and they 
glorified the God of Israel. But 
Joshua called unto him his disciples 
and spoke, 

Joshua. I am moved with pity 
over upon the crowd, because they 
adhere to me already three days, and 
they do not have what they might 
eat: and I do not wish to release them 
fasting, lest at any time they might 
faint in the way. 

Levi. And the disciples say to him, 
The disciples. From whence are to 
us so. many loaves of bread in a des- 
ert, so as to suffice so immense a 
crowd ? 

Levi. And Joshua says to them, 
Joshua. How many loaves of bread 



SCENE VIII. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



23 



have ye? 

Levi. But the ones spoke. 
The disciples. Seven, and a few- 
little fishes. 

Levi. And he charged the crowd to 
fall back over upon the earth, and he 
received the seven loaves of bread, 
and the fishes; and he gave thanks 
and broke them, and was giving to the 
disciples, but the disciples to the 
crowds. And they all ate, and wire 
sufficed: and they took up the over- 
abounding of the broken pieces, 
seven hampers full. But the ones 
eating were about four thousand men, 
without counting women and children. 
Scene 7. The borders of Magadan. 
The lake of Galilee. 

Levi. And he released the crowds 
and embarked into the boat, and 
came into the borders of Magadan. 
And the Pharisees and Sadducees 
approached, tempting him, and in- 
terrogated him to show forth to 
them a sign out of the heaven. But 
the one answered and spoke to them, 

Joshua. An evil and adulterous 
generation seeks after a sign; and a 
sign shall not be given to it, except 
the sign of Jonah. 

Levi. And he left them behind and 
came away. And the disciples came 
into the other side and forgot to re- 
ceive loaves of bread. But Joshua 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. See ye and beware of the 
leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

Levi. But the ones were reasoning 
among themselves, saying, 

The disciples. It is because we did 
not receive loaves of bread. 

Levi. But Joshua knew it and 
spoke, 

Joshua. Why reason ye among 
yourselves, littlebelief ones, because 
ye do not have loaves of bread? Do 
ye not yet consider, neither recollect 
the five loaves of bread of the five 
thousand, and how many baskets full 



ye received? Neither the seven 
loaves of bread of the four thousand, 
and how many hampers full ye re- 
ceived? How do ye not consider 
that I did not speak to you concern- 
ing loaves of bread? But beware of 
the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad- 
ducees. 

Levi. Then they understood that 
he did not speak to beware of the 
leaven of the loaves of bread, how- 
beit of the doctrine of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees. 

Scene 8. The parts of Cvsarea 
Ph Hip pi. 

Levi.B ut Joshua came into the 
parts of Cajsarea Philippi and was 
asking his disciples, saying, 

Joshua. Whom do the humans say 
the Son of the human to be? 

Levi. But the ones spoke, 

The disciples. The ones indeed say 
Johanan the immerser; but others, 
Elijah: but different ones, Jeremiah, 
or one of the prophets. 

Levi He says to them, 

Joshua. But ye, whom do ye'say 
me to be? 

Levi. But Simon Peter answered 
and spoke, 

Simon. Thou, thou art the Mes- 
siah, the Son of the living God. 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke to him, 

Joshua. Happy art thou, Simon 
Bar-jonah; because flesh and blood 
did not reveal */ to thee, howbeit my 
Father the one in the heavens. But 
also I, I say to thee, that Thou, thou 
art Petros [rocklet]; and, Upon this 
the petra [rock] I will build my 
assembly; and the gates of the grave 
shall not prevail against it. I will 
give to thee the keys of the kingdom 
of the heavens: and whatsoever thou 
mightcst bind over the earth shall be 
having been bound in the heavens; 
and whatsoever thou mightest loose 
over the earth shall be having been 



24 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT III. 



loosed in the heavens. 

Levi. Then he cautioned the disci- 
ples in order that they might never 
speak to one that he himself is the 
Messiah. From then Joshua the Mes- 
siah began to show to his disciples, 
that he must come away into Hicro- 
soluma, and suffer many things from 
t he elders and chiefpricsts and scribes, 
and be killed, and on the third day be 
raised up. And Petros [Peter] re- 
ceived him unto himself and began to 
rebuke him, saying, 

Peter. Be it far from thee, Lord: 
this shall not ever be to thee. 

Lev i. But the one turned and spoke 
to Peter, 

Joshua. Retire thou behind me, 
Satan: thou art a trap to me; be- 
cause thou dost not mind the things 
of the God, howbeit the things of the 
humans. 

Levi. Then Joshua spoke to his 
disciples, 

Joshua. If anyone wishes to come 
behind me, let him utterly deny him- 
self, and take up his cross, and follow 
me. For whosoever may wish to 
save his soul shall destroy it: but 
whosoever might destroy his soul for 
my sake shall find it. For what shall 
a human be profited, if assuredly he 
might gain the whole world, but 
might experience the loss of his soul? 
or what shall a human give in ex- 
change for his soul? For the Son of 
the human is about to come in the 
glory of his Father in company with 
his angels; and then he will render to 
each one according to his act. Amen 
I say to you, that There arc certain 
of the ones having stood here, who- 
ever might not ever taste of death, 
until assuredly they might see the 
Son of the human coming in his 
kingdom. 

Scene 9. .4 mountain in Galilee. 
The plain. 
Levi. And after six days Joshua 



receives beside him Peter, and Jacob, 
and Johanan his brother, and brings 
them up into a high mountain apart: 
and he was transformed in front of 
them; and his face shone as the sun, 
but his garments became white as the 
light. And, lo, there was seen by 
them Mosheh and Elijah talking to- 
gether in company with him. But 
Peter answered and spoke to Joshua, 

Peter. Lord, it is beautiful for us to 
be here: if thou wishest, I will make 
here three tents ; one for thee, and one 
for Mosheh, and one for Elijah. 

Levi. While he is yet talking, lo, 
a cloud full of light overshadowed 
them: and, lo, a voice out of the cloudy 
saying, 

God. This is my Son the David, in 
whom I wellthought; hear ye him. 

Levi. And when the disciples heard 
it, they fell over upon their face, and 
feared excessively. And Joshua ap- 
proached; and he touched them and 
spoke, 

Joshua. Arise ye, and never fear. 

Levi. But when they lifted up their 
eyes, they did not see one, except 
Joshua himself alone. And as they 
are descending out of the mountain, 
Joshua commanded them, saying, 

Joshua. Never might ye speak of 
the sight to one, until what time the 
Son of the human might stand up 
out o f dead ones. 

Levi. And his disciples interrogated 
him, saying, 

The disciples. Therefore why say 
the scribes that Elijah must first 
come ? 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Elijah indeed comes, and 
shall restore all things. But I say to 
you, that Elijah already came, and 
they did not recognise him, howbeit 
they did in him as many things as 
they wished. Thus also the Son of 
the human is about to suffer under 



SCENE X. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



25 



them. 

Levi. Then the disciples understood 
that he spoke to them concerning 
Johanan the immcrscr. And when 
they came unto the crowd, there came 
unto him a human, kneeling down to 
him, and saying, 

A father. Lord, have thou mercy 
on my son; because he is moonized, 
and fares badly: for many times he 
falls into the fire, and many times 
into the water. And I brought him 
unto thy disciples, and they were not 
able to cure him. 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke. 

Joshua. O unbelieving and having 
been perverted generation, how long 
shall 1 be in company with you? how 
long shall I forbear with you? bring 
ye him here to me. 

Levi. And Joshua rebuked him, 
and the fiend came out from him: 
and the boy was cured from that 
hour. Then the disciples came unto 
Joshua apart and spoke, 

The disciples. On what account 
were we not able, we, to cast it out? 

Levi. But the one says to them, 

Joshua. On account of your little- 
belief: for amen I say to you, If as- 
suredly ye may have belief as a grain 
of mustard seed, ye shall speak to 
this mountain, Pass thou on hence 
there; and it shall pass on : and noth- 
ing shall be unable to you. 

Levi. But while they are turning 
about together in Galilee, Joshua 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. The Son of the human is 
about to be delivered up into the hands 
of humans: and they will kill him, 
and on the third day he shall be raised 
up. 

Levi. And they were excessively 
grieved. 

Scene io. Capernaum. 

Levi. But when they came into 
Capernaum, the ones receiving the 



half-shekel came unto Peter, and 
spoke, 

Rate-collector. Does not your teacher 
pay the tax of the half-shekel? 
Levi. He says, 
Peter. Yes. 

Levi. And when he entered into the 
dwelling, Joshua forestalled him, say- 
ing, 

Joshua. What seems it to thee, 
Simon? from whom do the kings of 
the earth receive taxes or census- 
money? from their sons, or from for- 
eigners? 

Levi. But when he spoke, From 
foreigners, Joshua was speaking to 
him, 

Joshua. So then at least the sons 
are free. But in order that we might 
never entrap them, go thou into the 
sea and cast a hook, and take the fish 
which ascended first; and thou shalt 
open its mouth and find a stater: 
that receive thou and give to them 
instead of me and thee. 

Levi. In that hour the disciples 
came unto Joshua, saying, 

The disciples. So then who is great- 
est in the kingdom of the heavens? 

Levi. And he called unto him a 
child and stood it in the midst of 
them, and spoke, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, Ex- 
cept assuredly ye might turn, and be- 
come as the children, ye might not 
ever enter into the kingdom of the 
heavens. Therefore whoever shall 
humble himself as this child, this one 
is the greatest in the kingdom of the 
heavens. And whosoever might ac- 
cept one such child upon my name 
accepts me. But whosoever might 
entrap one of these little ones the ones 
believing into me, it is expedient for 
him in order that an ass-power mill- 
stone might be hung about his neck, 
and that he might be drowned in the 
expanse of the sea. Woe to the world 
from the traps! for there is necessity 



26 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT III. 



for the traps to conic; nevertheless 
woe to that human through whom the 
trap comes! But it thy hand, or thy 
foot, entraps thee, chop thou it out, 
and cast it from thee: it is beautiful 
for thee to enter into the life maimed 
or lame, rather than having two hands 
or two feet to be cast into the ever- 
lasting fire. And if thy eye entraps 
thee, take thou it out, and cast it 
from thee: it is beautiful for thee to 
enter into the life with one eye, rather 
than having two eyes to be cast into 
the Gehenna of the fire. See ye that 
ye might never despise one of these 
little ones: for I say to you, that Their 
angels in the heavens continually be- 
hold the face of my Father the one in 
the heavens. What seems it to you? 
if assuredly there might become to 
any human a hundred sheep, and one 
out of them might wander astray, 
does he not acquit the ninety nine, 
and go over upon the mountains, and 
seek the one wandering astray? And 
if assuredly it might become for him 
to find it, amen I say to you, that he 
rejoices upon it rather than upon the 
ninety nine the ones never having 
wandered astray. Thus it is not the 
wish in front of your Father the one 
in the heavens, in order that one of 
these little ones might be destroyed. 
But if assuredly thy brother might 
sin, retire thou, reprove him between 
thee and him alone: if assuredly he 
might hear thee, thou gainedst thy 
brother. But if assuredly he might 
never hear, receive thou beside thee 
in company with thee yet one or two, 
in order that over the mouth of two 
witnesses or three every saying might 
be made to stand. But if assuredly 
he might disregard them, speak thou 
to the assembly: but if assuredly he 
might disregard also the assembly, 
let him be to thee as even the one of 
the nations and the tax-collector. 
Amen I say to you, As many things 



as if assuredly ye might bind over the 
earth shall be having been bound in 
heaven; and as many things as if 
assuredly ye might loose over the 
earth shall be having been loosed in 
heaven. Again I say to you, that If 
assuredly two out of you might agree 
over the earth concerning every ac- 
tion whatsoever they might request, 
it shall become to them from beside 
my Father the one in the heavens. 
For where two or three are having 
been gathered into my own name, 
there I am in the midst of them. 

Levi. Then Peter approached and 
spoke to him, 

Peter. Lord, how many times shall 
my brother sin into me, and shall I 
acquit to him? until seven times? 

Levi. Joshua says to him, 

Joshua. I do not say to thee, Until 
seven times; howbeit, Until seventy 
times seven. On this account the 
kingdom of the heavens was likened 
to a human a king, who wished to 
compute an account in company 
with his bondservants. But when 
he began to compute, there was 
brought unto him one, who was debtor 
of ten thousand talents. But when 
he is never having the means to pay 
with, the lord bade him to be bartered, 
and the wife, and the beams, and all 
things as many as he was having, and 
payment to be made. Therefore the 
bondservant fell down and was wor- 
shipping him, saying, 

A slave. Lord, be thou longsuffer- 
ing upon'me, and I will pay all to thee. 

Joshua. But the lord of that bond- 
servant was moved with pity and re- 
leased him, and acquitted the loan to 
him. But that bondservant came 
out and found one of his fellowbond- 
servants, who was owing to him a 
hundred denarii: and he laid hold on 
him and was strangling him, saying, 

The slave. 1'ay thou, if thou owest 
anything. 



SCENE X. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



27 



Joshua. Therefore his fcllowbond- 
servant fell down and was beseech- 
ing him, saying, 

A co-slave. Be thou longsuffering 
upon me, and I will pay it to thee. 

Joshua. Hut the one was not wish- 
ing so to do: howbeit he came away 
dial cast him into guard, until he 
might pay the thing owed. Then- 
fore his fellowbondscrvants saw the 
things which became and were ex- 
cessively grieved; and they came and 
explained to the lord of themselves 
all the things which became. Then 
his lord called him unto him and says 
to him, 

The master. Evil bondservant, I 
acquitted to the all that due, since 
thou besoughtest me: oughtest not 
also thou to have had mercy on thy 
fcllowbondservant, as also I, I had 
mercy on thee? 

Joshua. And his lord was angered 
and delivered him tip to the testers, 
until what time he might pay all the 
thing owed to him. Thus also my 
heavenly Father shall do to you, ex- 
cept assuredly ye might each one 
from your hearts acquit to his brother. 

ACT IV. 

Scene i. The borders of Judaea be- 

yond the Jordan. 

Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
ended these words, he migrated from 
Galilee, and came into the .borders 
of Judrea beyond the Jordan. And 
many crowds followed him; and he 
cured them there. 

And the Pharisees came unto him, 
tempting him, and saying, 

The Pharisees. Whether is it author- 
ised for a man to put away his wife 
according to every cause? 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke. 

Joshua. Did ye not read, that the 
One who made them from the beginning 
made them male and female, and 
spoke, For the sake of this a human 



shall leave father and mother behind, 
and shall cleave unto his wife; and 
the two shall be into one flesh? So 
that they are no more two, howbeit 
one flesh. Therefore that which the 
God yoked together, never let. a hu- 
man separate. 

Levi. They say to him, 

The Pharisees. Therefore why did 
Mosheh command to give a scroll of 
divorce, and to put her away? 

Levi. lie says to them, 

Joshua. Because Mosheh unto your 
hardheartedness permitted you to 
put away your wives: but from the 
beginning it has not become thus. 
But I say to you, that Whoso might 
put away his wife, except upon whore- 
dom, and might marry another, com- 
mits adultery: and the one who mar- 
ried a woman having been put away 
commits adultery. 

Levi. The disciples say to him, 

The disciples. If the cause of the 
human is thus in company with the 
wife, it is not expedient to marry. 

Levi. But the one spoke to them, 

Joshua. Not all contain this word, 
howbeit they to whom it has been 
given. For there are eunuchs, who- 
ever were begotten thus out of their 
mother's belly: and there are, eunuchs, 
whoever were made eunuchs under 
the humans: and there are eunuchs, 
whoever made themselves eunuchs on 
account of the kingdom of the heavens. 
The one being able to contain it, let 
him contain it. 

Levi. Then children were brought 
unto him, in order that he might 
place the hands upon them, and pray: 
but the disciples rebuked them. But 
Joshua spoke, 

Joshua. Acquit ye the children, 
and never forbid them, to come unto 
me: for of such is the kingdom of 
the heavens. 

Levi. And he placed the hands 
upon them and went thence. And, 



28 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV, 



lo, one came unto him and spoke, 

A young man. Teacher, what good 
thing shall I do, in order that 1 might 
have everlasting life? 

Levi. But the one spoke to him, 

Joshua. Why askest thou me con- 
cerning the good thing? The good 
one is One: but if thou wishest to 
enter into the life, keep the com- 
mandments. 

Levi. He says to him, 

The young man. Which sort? 

Levi. But Joshua spoke, 

Joshua. The sort: Thou shalt not 
murder, Thou shalt not commit adul- 
tery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt 
not bear false witness, Honour thou 
the father and the mother: and, Thou 
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Levi. The young man says to him, 

The young man. All these things I 
guarded : what lack I yet ? 

Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 

Joshua. If thou wishest to be per- 
fect, retire, sell the things subsisting 
of thee, and give to poor ones, and 
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: 
and hither thou, follow me. 

Levi. But the young man heard 
the word and came away grieved: for 
he was one having many possessions. 
But Joshua spoke to his disciples, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
A rich one shall difficultly enter into 
the kingdom of the heavens. But 
again I say to you, It is easier jor a 
ca mel to come across through the eye of 
a needle, than for a rich one to enter 
into the kingdom of the God. 

Levi. But when the disciples heard it, 
they were excessively astounded, 
saying, 

The disciples. So then who is able 
to be saved? 

Levi. But Joshua looked at them 
and spoke to them, 

Joshua. Beside humans this is 
unable; but beside God all things 
arc able. 



Levi. Then Peter answered and 
spoke to him, 

Peter. Lo, we, we acquitted all 

things, and followed thee; so then 
what shall be to us? 

Levi. But Joshua spoke to them, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
Ye the ones who followed me, in the re- 
generation whenever the Son of the 
human might sit down over the throne 
of his glory, ye shall sit, also ye, over 
upon twelve thrones, judging the 
twelve tribes of the Israel. And 
everyone whoever acquitted dwellings, 
or brothers, or sisters, or father, or 
mother, or wife, or beams, or fields, 
for my name's sake, shall receive a 
hundredfold, and shall inherit ever- 
lasting life. But many first ones 
shall be last; and last ones shall be 
first. 

For the kingdom of the heavens is 
like to a human a master of a house, 
whoever came out early in the morn- 
ing to hire workers into his vine- 
yard. But when he agreed in com- 
pany with the workers for a denarius 
by the day, he commissioned them 
into his vineyard. And he came out 
about the third hour and saw others 
having stood idle in the marketplace; 
and he spoke to those, 

A master. Retire ye, also ye, into 
the vineyard, and whatsoever may be 
righteous, I will give to you. 

Joshua. But the ones came away. 
Again he came out about the sixth 
and ninth hour and did after the same 
manner. But about the eleventh 
hour he came out and found others 
having stood; and he says to them, 

The master. Why have ye stood 
here the whole day idle? 

Joshua. They say to him, 

The workers. Because no one hired 
us. 

Joshua. lie says to them, 

/'//(• master. Retire ye, also ye, into 
the vineyard. 



SCENE III. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



29 



Joshua. But when evening became, 
the lord of the vineyard says to his 
manager, 

The master. Call thou the workers, 
and pay to them the hire, beginning 
from the last ones until the first ones. 
Joshua. And when the ones who 
were hired about the eleventh hour 
came, they received a denarius apiece. 
But when the first ones came, they 
deemed that they shall receive more; 
and they also themselves received a 
denarius apiece. But when they re- 
ceived it, they were murmuring against 
the master of the house, saying, 

The first workers. These the last 
made one hour, and thou madest them 
equal to us, the ones who carried the 
weight of the day and the heat. 

Joshua. But the one answered one 
of them and spoke, 

The master. Companion, I am not 
unrighteous with thee: didst not thou 
agree with me for a denarius? Take 
thou the thing that is thy own, and 
retire: but I wish to give to this 
the last one, as even to thee. Or is it 
not authorised for me to do that 
which I wish in my own things? or is 
thy eye evil, because I, I am good? 

Joshua. Thus the last ones shall 
be first, and the first ones last. 
Scene 2. On the way to Jerusalem. 
Levi. And Joshua is ascending into 
rlierosoluma and received beside him 
the twelve disciples apart, and in the 
way spoke to them, 

Joshua. Lo, we ascend into Hiero- 
soluma; and the Son of the human 
shall be delivered up to the chief- 
priests and scribes, and they will con- 
demn him into death, and will deliver 
him up to the nations into the end for 
to mock, and scourge, and crucify 
him: and on the third day he shall 
stand up. 

Levi. Then came unto him the 
mother of the sons of Zebedee in 
company with her sons, worshipping 



him, and requesting a certain thing 
from beside him. But the one spoke 
to her, 

Joshua. What wishest thou? 

Levi. She says to him, 

Salome. Speak thou in order that 
these my two sons might sit down, 
one on thy right hand, and the other 
on thy left, in thy kingdom. 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. Ye do not cognise what 
ye request. Arc ye able to drink the 
cup which I, I am about to drink? 

Levi. They say to him, 

Jacob & Johanan. We are able. 

Levi. He says to them, 

Joshua. Ye shall drink my cup 
indeed: but the thing to sit down on 
my right hand, and on my left, is not 
mine to give, howbeit it shall be given 
to whom it has been readied under 
my Father. 

Levi. And the ten heard it and 
they were indignant concerning the 
two brothers. But Joshua called 
them unto him and spoke, 

Joshua. Ye cognise that the rulers 
of the nations exercise lordship over 
them, and the great ones exercise au- 
thority over them. It shall not be 
thus among you: howbeit whosoever 
may wish to become great among you, 
he will be your servant; and whoso 
may wish to be first among you, let 
him be your bondservant: as even 
the Son of the human did not come t° 
be served, howbeit to serve, and to 
give his soul a ransom in the stead of 
many. 
Scene 3. On the way out of Jericho. 

Levi. And as they are going out 
from Jericho, an immense crowd 
followed him. And, lo, two blind 
men sitting by the way side, when 
they heard that Joshua passes along, 
cried out, saying, 

Two blind men. Lord, have mercy 
on us, thou Son of David. 



30 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV. 



Levi. But the crowd rebuked them, 
in order that they might keep still: 
but the ones cried out louder, saying, 

The blind men. Lord, have mercy 
on us, thou Son of David. 

Levi. And Joshua stood and voiced 
them,. and spoke, 

Joshua. What wish ye that I shall 
do for you? 

Levi. They say to him, 

The blind men. Lord, in order that 
oxir eyes may be opened. 

Levi. But Joshua was moved with 
pity and touched their eyes: and 
immediately they received sight, and 
followed him. 

Scene 4. Bethphage. The mount of 
Olives. Jerusalem. 

Levi. And when they neared into 
llierosoluma, and came into Beth- 
phage, unto the mount of Olives, 
then Joshua commissioned two disci- 
ples, saying to them, 

Joshua. Go ye into the village the 
one opposite you, and immediately ye 
shall find an ass having been tied, and 
a colt in company with her: loose ye 
them and lead them to me. And if 
assuredly anyone might speak any- 
thing to you, ye shall speak, that 
The Lord has need of them; but 
straightway he will commission them. 

Levi. But this whole thing has 
become, in order that there might be 
fulfilled the thing spoken through the 
prophet, saying, 

Speak ye to the daughter of Zion, 
Lo, thy King comes to thee, meek, 
and having ridden over upon an ass, 
even over upon a colt the foal of a 
beast of burden. 

But the disciples went, and did ac- 
cording as Joshua ordained to them, 
and led the ass and the colt; and they 
placed on over them the garments; 
and he sat upon overabove them. 
But the most immense crowd spread 
the garments of themselves in the 
way; but others were chopping 



branches from the fruit-trees, and 
were spreading them in the way. But 
the crowds the ones leading before 
him, and the ones following, were 
crying out, saying, 

The crowds. Hosanna to the Son of 
David: having been blessed is the 
one coming in the name of the Lord; 
Hosanna in the highest places. 

Levi. And when he entered into 
Hierosoluma, all the city was quaked, 
saying, 

All Jerusalem. Who is this? 

Levi. But the crowds were saying, 

The crowds. This is the Prophet, 
Joshua, the one from Nazareth of 
Galilee. 

Levi. And Joshua entered into the 
temple, and cast out all the ones 
selling and buying in the temple, and 
overturned the tables of the coin- 
brokers, and the seats of the ones 
selling the doves, and says to them, 

Joshua. It has been written, My 
house shall be called the house of 
prayer: but ye, ye make it a cave of 
robbers. 

Levi. And blind and lame ones 
came unto him in the temple; and 
he cured them. But when the chief- 
priests and the scribes saw the mar- 
vellous things which he did, and the 
boys the ones crying out in the temple 
and saying, Hosanna to the Son of 
David; they were indignant, and 
spoke to him, 

The chief priests & scribes. Hearest 
thou what these say? 

Levi. But Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. Yes; did ye ncnther at any 
time read, that Out of the mouth of 
infants and sucklings thou repairedst 
praise? 

Scene 5. Bethany. On the way to 
Jerusalem. In the temple. 

Levi. And he left them behind and 
came forth without the city into 
Bethany; and he lodged there. 

But in the morning, as he led back 



SCENE V. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



31 



into the city, he hungered. And he 
saw one fig tree over the way and came 
over upon it, and did not find one 
thing in it, except leaves only; and he 
says to it, 

Joshua. Nevermore might fruit be- 
come out of thee for ever. 

Levi. And forthwith the fig tree 
withered away. And the disciples 
saw it and marvelled, saying, 

The disciples. How forthwith the 
fig tree withered away! 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, If 
assuredly ye may have belief, and 
might never doubt, not only shall ye 
do the affair of the fig tree, howbeit 
even if assuredly ye might speak to 
this mountain, Be thou taken up and 
cast into the sea; it shall become. 
And all things as many as assuredly 
ye might request in the prayer, be- 
lieving, ye shall receive. 

Levi. And when he came into the 
temple, the chiefpriests and the 
elders of the people came unto him 
as he is teaching, saying, 

The chiefpriests & elders. By what 
sort of authority doest thoix these 
things? and who gave this authority 
to thee? 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. I will ask you, also I, one 
word, which if assuredly ye might 
Speak to me, also I, I will speak 
to you by what sort of authority 
I do these things. The immersion 
the one of Johanan, from whence 
was it? out of heaven, or out of 
humans? 

Levi. But the ones were reasoning 
beside themselves, saying, 

The chiefpriests & ciders [Aside], If 
assuredly we might speak, Out of 
heaven : he will speak to us, Therefore 
on what account did ye not believe 
him? But if assuredly we might speak, 



Out of humans: we fear the crowd: 
for all esteem Johanan as a prophet. 

Levi. And they answered Joshua 
and spoke, 

The chiefpriests & elders. We do not 
cognise. 

Levi. He also himself was speaking 
to them, 

Joshua. Neither do I, I say to you 
by what sort of authority I do these 
things. But what seems it to you? A 
human was having two beams; and 
he came unto the first and spoke, 

A father. Beam, retire thou, work 
to-day in my vineyard. 

Joshua. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

The first beam. I do not wish to. 

Joshua. Afterward he regretted and 
came away. But he came unto the 
second and spoke after the same 
manner. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

The second beam. I go, sir. 

Joshua. And he did not come away. 
Who out of the two did the wish of 
the father? 

Levi. They say, 

The chiefpriests & elders. The first. 

Levi. Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
The tax-collectors and the whores 
lead before you into the kingdom of 
the God. For Johanan came unto you 
in a way of righteousness, and ye did 
not believe him: but the tax-col- 
lectors and the whores believed him: 
but ye, when ye saw it, ye did not 
regret afterward, for to believe him. 

Another comparison hear ye: There 
was a human a master 1 of a house, 
whoever planted a vineyard, and 
placed a hedge about it, and dug a 
winepress in it, and built a tower, 
and rented it out to farmers, and 
travelled abroad. But when the sea- 
son of the fruits neared, he commis- 
sioned his bondservants unto the 
farmers to receive his fruits. And 



32 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV. 



the fanners received his bondservants 
and beat one indeed, but killed 
another, but cast stones at another. 
Again he commissioned other bond- 
servants more than the first: and 
they did to them after the same man- 
ner. But afterward he commissioned 
unto them his son, saying, 

A master. They will respect my 
son. 

Joshua. But when the farmers saw 
the son, they spoke among them- 
selves, 

The farmers. This is the heir; 
hither ye, let us kill him, and have his 
inheritance. 

Joshua. And they received him 
and cast him forth without the vine- 
yard, and killed him. Therefore 
whenever the lord of the vineyard 
might come, what will he do to those 
farmers? 

Levi. They say to him, 

The chief priests & elders. He will 
destroy them the bad ones badly, and 
will rent out the vineyard to other 
farmers, whoever will render to him 
the fruits in their seasons. 

Levi. Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. Did ye neither at any 
time read in the scriptures, The stone 
which the ones building disapproved, 
this was made to become into the head 
of the corner: this corner stone became 
from beside the Lord, and it is mar- 
vellous in our eyes? On this account 
I say to you, The kingdom of the God 
shall be taken from you, and be given 
to a nation bringing forth the fruits 
of it. And the one who fell over upon 
this stone shall be shattered: but over 
upon whomsoever it might fall, it shall 
winnow him away. 

Levi. And the chiefpriests and the 
Pharisees heard his comparisons and 
knew that he says them concerning 
them. And when they are seeking 
to lay hold on him, they feared the 
crowds, since they were esteeming him 



into a prophet. And Joshua an- 
swered and spoke to them again in 
comparisons, saying, 

Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
ens was likened to a human a king, 
whoever made marriage festivities 
for his son, and commissioned his 
bondservants to call the ones having 
been called into the marriage festiv- 
ities: and they were not wishing to 
come. Again he commissioned other 
bondservants, saying, 

A king. Speak ye to the ones hav- 
ing been called, Lo, I have readied 
my dinner: my bulls and fatlings 
have been sacrificed, and all things 
are ready: hither ye into the mar- 
riage festivities. 

Joshua. But the ones neglected 
it and came away, the one indeed into 
his own field, but another over upon 
his merchandise: but the rest laid 
hold on his bondservants and de- 
spited them, and killed them. But the 
king was angered; and he sent his 
armies and destroyed those murder- 
ers, and blazed up their city. Then 
he says to his bondservants, 

The king. The marriage indeed is 
ready, but the ones having been called 
were not worthy. Therefore go ye 
over upon the thoroughfares of the 
ways, and as many as if assuredly ye 
might find, call ye into the marriage 
festivities. 

Joshua. And those bondservants 
came out into the ways and gathered 
all whom they found, both evil and 
good: and the bridechamber was 
filled with ones reclining at table. But 
the king entered to gaze at the ones 
reclining at table and saw there a 
human not having been clothed in 
the marriage clothing: and he says 
to him, 

The king. Companion, how enter- 
edst thou here never having the mar- 
riage clothing? 

Joshua. But the one was muzzled. 



SCENE VI. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



:;:; 



Then the king spoke to the servants, 

The king. Bind ye him feet and 
hands and cast him out into the out- 
er darkness: there shall be the weep- 
ing and the gnashing of the teeth 
there. For many are called ones, but 
few are select. 
Scene 6. Jerusalem. In the temple. 

Levi. Then the Pharisees went and 
received consultation to the intent 
that they might ensnare him in a 
word. And they commission to him 
their disciples in company with the 
Herodians, saying, 

The Pharisees & Herodians. Teach- 
er, we cognise that thou art true, and 
teachest the way of the God in truth, 
and it is not care to thee concerning 
anyone: for thou dost not behold into 
the face of humans. Therefore speak 
thou to us, What seems it to thee? 
Is it authorised to give census money 
to Caesar, or not? 

Levi. But Joshua knew their evil 
and spoke, 

Joshua. Why tempt ye me, dis- 
semblers? Show forth to me the coin 
of the census money. 

Levi. But the ones brought unto 
him a denarius. And he says to 
them, 

Joshua. Of whom is this the image 
and the superscription? 

Levi. They say, 

The Pharisees & Herodians. Of 
Caesar. 

Levi. Then he says to them, 

Joshua. Therefore render ye the 
things of Caesar to Caesar; and the 
things of the God to the God. 

Levi. And when they heard it, they 
marvelled; and they acquitted him 
and came away. 

In that day there came unto him 
Sadducees, ones saying that there never 
is to be a resurrection, and they in- 
terrogated him, saying, 

Sadducees. Teacher, Mosheh spoke, 
If assuredly anyone might die off, 



never having beams, his brother 
shall intermarry his wife, and stand 
up seed to his brother. But there 
were beside us seven brothers: and 
the first married and deceased, and, 
never having seed, acquitted his wife 
to his brother: likewise also the sec- 
ond, and the third, until the seven 
deceased. But afterward of all the 
woman died off. Therefore in the 
resurrection, of whom of the seven 
shall she be wife? for they all had her. 

Levi. But Joshua answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Ye wander astray, never 
cognising the scriptures, nor ever the 
power of the God. For in the resur- 
rection they neither marry, nor are 
given in marriage, howbeit they are 
as the angels of God in the heaven. 
But concerning the resurrection of 
the dead, did ye not read the thing 
spoken to you under the God, saying, 
I, I am the God of Abraham, and the 
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 
He is not the God of dead ones, how- 
beit of living ones. 

Levi. And the crowds heard it and 
were astounded upon his doctrine. 
But the Pharisees heard that he 
muzzled the Sadducees, and they were 
gathered over upon the same purpose; 
and one out of them, a lawyer, inter- 
rogated him, tempting him, 

A lawyer. Teacher, of what sort is 
the great commandment in the law? 

Levi. But the one was speaking to 
him, 

Joshua. Thou shalt love the Lord 
thy God in thy whole heart, and in 
thy whole soul, and in thy whole intel- 
lect. This is the great and first com- 
mandment. The second is like to it, 
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as 
thyself. In these the two command- 
ments the whole law hangs, and the 
prophets. 

Levi. But while the Pharisees are 
having been gathered, Joshua interro- 



34 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV. 



gated them, saying, 

Joshua. What seems it to you con- 
cerning the Messiah? of whom is he 
the Son? 

Levi. They say to him, 

The Pharisees. Of David. 

Levi. He says to them, 

Joshua. Therefore how does David 
in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 
The Lord spoke to my Lord, Sit thou 
on my right hand, until assuredly I 
might place thy enemies underneath 
thy feet? Therefore if David calls 
him Lord, how is he his son? 

Levi. And no one was able to 
answer him a word, neither dared 
anyone from that day to interrogate 
him any more. 
Scene 7. Jerusalem. In the temple. 

Levi. Then Joshua talked to the 
crowds, and to his disciples, saying, 

Joshua. The scribes and the Phari- 
sees sat down over Mosheh's seat: 
therefore all things as many as as- 
suredly they might speak to you, do 
ye and keep; but never do ye accord- 
to their works: for they say, and 
they do not do. But they bind up 
weighty burdens and difficult to be 
carried, and place them on over upon 
the shoulders of the humans ; but they 
themselves do not wish to move them 
with their finger. But all their works 
they do unto the purpose to be gazed 
at by the humans: for they widen 
their amulets, and enlarge the hems 
of their garments; but they friendship 
the first couch in the suppers, and the 
first seats in the synagogues, and the 
salutations in the markets, and to be 
called under the humans, Rabbi. 
But ye, never might ye be called 
Rabbi: for One is your Teacher; but 
all ye, ye are brothers. And never 
might ye call anyone your father over 
the earth: for One is your heavenly 
Father. Nor ever might ye be called 
leaders: for One is your Leader, even 
the Messiah. But the one greatest of 



you will be your servant. But who- 
ever will exalt himself shall be hum- 
bled; and whoever will humble him- 
self shall be exalted. 

But woe to you, scribes and Phari- 
sees, dissemblers! because ye shut up 
the kingdom of the heavens in front of 
the humans: for ye, ye do not enter 
yourselves, neither do ye acquit the 
ones entering to enter. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
dissemblers! because ye lead on about 
the sea and the dry land to make one 
convert; and whenever he might be- 
come, ye make him twofold more a 
son of Gehenna than yourselves. 

Woe to you, blind guides! the ones 
saying, Whoso might swear by the 
shrine, it is nothing; but whosoever 
might swear by the gold of the shrine, 
he owes. Fools and blind: for which 
is greater, the gold, or the shrine the 
one which sanctified the gold? And 
Whoso might swear by the altar, it is 
nothing; but whosoever might swear 
by the present the one overabove it, 
he owes. Fools and blind: for which 
is greater, the present, or the altar 
the one sanctifying the present ? 
Therefore the one who swore by the 
altar, swears by it, and by all things 
the ones overabove it. And the one 
who swore by the shrine, swears by it, 
and by the One residing in it. And 
the one who swore by the heaven, 
swears by the throne of the God, and 
by the One sitting overabove it. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
dissemblers ! because ye pay the tenth 
from the mint, and the anise, and the 
cumin; and ye acquitted the weightier 
things of the law, the judging, and 
the mercy, and the belief: these ye 
ought to do, and never to acquit those. 
Blind guides.the ones straining out the 
gnat, but drinking down the camel. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
dissemblers! because ye cleanse the 
part from without of the cup and the 



SCEXE VIII. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



35 



sidedish; but from within they are 
freighted out of extortion and incon- 
tinence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse thou 
first the inside of the cup and the 
sidedish, in order that also the outside 
of them might become clean. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
dissemblers! because ye are similar 
to sepulchres having been whitened, 
whichever from without indeed ap- 
pear splendid; but from within they 
are freighted with dead ones' bones, 
and all uncleanness. Thus also ye, 
from without indeed ye appear right- 
eous to the humans; but from within 
ye are ones laden with dissimulation 
and iniquity. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
dissemblers! because ye build the 
sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn 
the tombs of the righteous, and say, 
If we were for ourselves in the days of 
our fathers, we assuredly were for 
ourselves not partners of them in the 
blood of the prophets. So that ye 
witness to yourselves, that ye are 
sons of the ones who murdered the 
prophets. And ye, fill ye full the 
measure of your fathers. Serpents, 
progeny of vipers, how might ye flee 
from the judging of the Gehenna? 

On this account, lo, I, I commission 
unto you prophets, and wise ones, and 
scribes: out of them ye will kill, and 
crucify; and out of them ye will 
scourge in your synagogues, and pur- 
sue them from city into city: to the 
intent that over upon you might come 
all the righteous blood poured out over 
the earth, from the blood of Abel the 
righteous until the blood of Zacharias 
the son of Barachias, whom ye mur- 
dered between the shrine and the 
altar. Amen I say to you, All these 
things shall come over upon this 
generation. 

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one kill- 
ing the prophets, and casting stones 
at the ones having been commissioned 



unto her, how many times I wished to 
gather thy beams together, in the 
same manner that a hen gathers her 
chickens together under her wings, 
and ye did not wish it! Lo, your 
house is acquitted to you desolate. 
For I say to you, Ye might not ever 
see me henceforth, until assuredly ye 
might speak, Having been blessed is 
the one coming in the name of the Lord. 
Scene 8. Jerusalem. The temple. 
The mount of Olives. 

Levi. And Joshua came out from 
the temple and was going away: and 
his disciples approached to show forth 
to him the buildings of the temple. 
But the one answered and spoke to 
them, 

Joshua. Do ye not behold all these 
things? amen I say to you, There 
might not ever be acquitted here 
stone over upon stone, which shall not 
be thrown down. 

Levi. But when he is sitting over 
the mount of Olives, the disciples 
came unto him apart, saying, 

The disciples. Speak thou to us, 
When shall these things be? and, 
What shall be the sign of thy own 
presence, and of the consummation of 
the age? 

Levi. And Joshua answered and 
spoke to them, 

Joshua. Take ye heed lest anyone 
might cause you to wander astray. 
For many will come upon my name, 
saying, I, I am the Messiah; and they 
will cause many to wander astray. 
But ye shall be about to hear of 
wars, and rumours of wars: see ye, 
never be ye frightened: for they must 
become; howbeit the end is not yet. 
For nation will arise over upon nation, 
and kingdom over upon kingdom: 
and there shall be famines, and earth- 
quakes, in various places. But all 
these things are the beginning of 
travail-throes. 

Then they will'deliver you"up into 



36 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV. 



affliction, and will kill you: and ye 
shall be ones hated under all the 
nations on account of my name. 
And then many will be entrapped; 
and they will deliver up one another, 
and will hate one another. And 
many falseprophets will arise, and 
will cause many to wander astray. 
And on account of the fact for the 
iniquity to be multiplied, the love of 
the many will become cold. But the 
one who endured into the end, this 
one shall be saved. And this glad 
tidings of the kingdom shall be 
heralded in the whole inhabited 
earth into a testimony to all the 
nations; and then the end shall come. 
Therefore whenever ye might see 
the abomination of the desolation, the 
one spoken of through Daniel the 
prophet, having stood in the holy 
place (let the one reading consider), 
then let the ones in Judaea flee over 
upon the mountains: let the one over 
the housetop never descend to take 
the things out of his dwelling: and 
let the one in the field never return 
behind to take his garment. But 
woe to the ones being with child, and 
to the ones giving suck in those days! 
But pray ye in order that your flight 
might never become in the winter, nor 
ever on the sabbath day: for then 
there shall be great affliction, such as 
has not become from the beginning of 
the world until the now, no, nor 
ever might become. And except 
those days were shortened, no flesh at 
all would be saved: but on account of 
the select those days shall be short- 
ened. 

Then if assuredly anyone might 
speak to you, Lo, here is the Messiah, 
or here; never mighl ye believe it. For 
tlicrc will arise falsemessiahs, and false- 
prophets, and they will give great 
signs and wonders; so as to cause 
to wander astray, if able, even the 
select. Lo, I have forespoken to 



you. Therefore if assuredly they 
might speak to you, Lo, he is in the 
wilderness; never might ye come out: 
Lo, he is in the private rooms; never 
might ye believe it: for as even the 
lightning comes out from eastern 
regions and appears until western 
regions', thus the presence of the 
Son of the human shall be. Whither- 
soever the carcase may be, there the 
eagles will be gathered. 

But immediately after the affliction 
of those days the sun shall be dark- 
ened, and the moon shall not give 
its lustre, and the stars shall fall from 
the heaven, and the powers of the 
heavens shall be shaken: and then 
the sign of the Son of the human shall 
appear in heaven: and then all the 
tribes of the earth shall bewail, and 
they shall see the Son of the human 
coming over the clouds of the heaven 
in company with power and much 
glory. And, he will commission his 
angels in company with a trumpet of 
great sound, and they shall gather 
together his select out of the four 
winds, from the outermost parts of 
the heavens until their outermost 
parts. 

But learn ye the comparison from 
the fig tree: Whenever its branch 
might already become tender, and 
may shoot forth the leaves, ye know 
that the summer is near. Thus also 
ye, whenever ye might see all these 
things, know ye that he is near, even 
upon the doors. Amen I say to you, 
This generation might not ever pass 
away, until assuredly all these things 
might become. The heaven and the 
earth shall pass away, but my words 
might not ever pass away. 

But concerning that day and hour 
no one cognises, neither the angels of 
the heavens, nor the Son, except the 
Father alone. But as even the days 
of Noah were, thus the presence of the 
Son of the human shall be. For as 



SCENE VIII. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



37 



they were in the days the ones before 
the flood, desserting and drinking, 
marrying and giving in marriage, 
down to what day Noah entered into 
the ark, and they did not know until 
the flood came, and took them quite 
all away; thus also the presence of the 
Son of the human shall be. Then 
two men shall be in the field; one is 
received beside him, and one is ac- 
quitted. Two women shall be grind- 
ing grain in the mill; one is received 
beside him, and one is acquitted. 
Therefore watch ye; because ye do 
not cognise in what sort of day your 
Lord comes. But that thing know 
ye, that if the master of the house cog- 
nised in what sort of guard the thief 
comes, he assuredly watched, and 
assuredly did not allow his dwelling to 
be dug through. On this account also 
ye, become ye ready; because in 
what hour ye do not think the Son of 
the human comes. 

So then who is the faithful and pru- 
dent bondservant, whom the Lord 
constituted over his household, for to 
give to them the nourishment in sea- 
son? Happy is that bondservant, 
whom his Lord when he came shall 
find thus doing. Amen I say to you, 
that he will constitute him upon all 
the things subsisting of him. But 
if assuredly that bad bondservant 
might speak in his heart, My Lord 
delays; and might begin to strike his 
fellowbondservants, but may eat and 
drink in company with the ones being 
drunken; the Lord of that bondserv- 
ant will come in a day which he does 
not expect, and in an hour which he 
does not know, and will cut him in 
two, and place his part in company 
with the dissemblers: there shall be 
the weeping and the gnashing of the 
teeth there. 

Then the kingdom of the heavens 
shall be likened to ten virgins, who- 
ever received their torches and came 



out into meeting the bridegroom. 
But five out of them were foolish, and 
five prudent. For the foolish re- 
ceived their torches and did not re- 
ceive oil in company with themselves: 
but the prudent received oil in the 
cans in company with the torches of 
themselves. But while the bride- 
groom is delaying, they all napped 
and were sleeping. But at midnight 
there has become a clamour, 

Voices. Lo, the bridegroom! come 
ye out into escorting him. 

Joshua. Then all those virgins arose, 
and adorned the torches of themselves. 
But the foolish spoke to the prudent, 

The foolish virgins. Give ye to us 
out of your oil; because our torches 
are quenched. 

Joshua. But the prudent answered, 
saying, 

The prudent virgins. Lest at any 
time there might not be enough for us 
and you, go ye rather unto the ones 
selling, and buy for yourselves. 

Joshua. But while they are coming 
away to buy, the bridegroom came; 
and the ones ready entered in com- 
pany with him into the marriage 
festivities: and the door was shut. 
But afterward also the rest of the 
virgins come, saying, 

The foolish virgins. Lord, Lord, 
open thou to us. 

Joshua. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

The Bridegroom. Amen I say to 
you, I do not cognise you. 

Joshua. Therefore watch ye ; because 
ye do not cognise the day nor the hour. 
For it is as even a human travelling 
abroad, who called his own bondserv- 
ants, and delivered up to them the 
things subsisting of him. And to one 
indeed he gave five talents, but to 
another two, but to another one; 
to each one according to his own 
power; and he travelled abroad. Im- 
mediately the p?te who received the 



38 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT IV. 



five talents went and traded with 
them, and made other five talents. 
After the same manner also the one 
who received the two gained other 
two. But the one who received the 
one came away and dug in the earth, 
and hid his lord's money. But after 
much time the lord of those bond- 
servants comes, and compixtes the 
account in company with them. And 
the one who received the five talents 
approached and brought unto him 
other five talents, saying, 

The -first bondservant. Lord, thou 
deliveredst up to me five talents: 
see, I gained other five talents. 

Joshua. His lord was speaking to 
him, 

The lord. Well do ne, good and faith- 
ful bondservant: thou wast faithful 
over upon a few things, I will consti- 
tute thee over many things: enter 
thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Joshua. Also the one who received 
the two talents approached and spoke, 

The second bondservant. Lord, thou 
deliveredst up to me two talents: 
see, I gained other two talents. 

Joshua. His lord was speaking to 
him, 

The lord. Well done, good and faith- 
ful bondservant : thou wast faithful 
over upon a few things, I will consti- 
tute thee over many things: enter 
thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Joshua. But also the one having 
received the one talent approached 
and spoke, 

The evil bondservant. Lord, I knew 
thee that thou art a hard human, 
reaping whither thou didst not sow, 
and gathering whence thou didst not 
scatter abroad: and I feared and 
came away and hid thy talent in the 
earth: see, there thou hast thy own 
money. 

Joshua. But his lord answered and 
spoke to him, 

The lord. Evil and slothful bond- 



servant, thou cognisedst that I reap 
whither I did not sow, and gather 
whence I did not scatter abroad: 
therefore thou oughtest to have put 
my moneys with the bankers, and when 
I came, I assuredly procured my own 
money together with interest. There- 
fore take ye the talent from him, 
and give it to the one having the ten 
talents. For to everyone the one 
having there shall be given, and he 
shall be caused to abound: but from 
the one never having, even that which 
he has shall be taken from him. 
And cast ye out the unuseful bond- 
servant into the outer darkness: there 
shall be the 1 weeping and the gnashing 
of the teeth there. 

Joshua. But whenever the Son of 
the human might come in his glory, 
and all the angels in company with 
him, then he will sit down over the 
throne -of., his glory: and all the 
nations shall be gathered in front of 
him; and' he will set them apart from 
one another, as even the shepherd 
sets apart the sheep from the kids: 
and he will stand the sheep indeed on 
his right hand, but the kidlings on 
the left. Then the King will speak to 
the ones on his right hand, 

The King. Hither ye, the ones 
having been blessed of my Father, in- 
herit the kingdom having been readied 
for you from the evolution of the 
world: for I hungered, and ye gave 
to me to eat ; I thirsted, and ye caused 
me to drink; I was for myself a 
stranger, and ye gathered me; naked, 
and ye arrayed me; I was sick, and 
ye visited me; I was for myself in 
guard, and ye came unto me. 

Joshua. Then the righteous will 
answer him, saying, 

The saved. Lord, when saw we thee 
hungering, and nourished thee? or 
thirsting, and caused thee to drink? 
But when saw we thee a stranger, 
and gathered thee? or naked, and 



SCENE VIII. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



39 



arrayed thee? But when saw we thee 
sick, or in guard, and came unto thee? 

Joshua. And the King will answer 
and speak to them, 

The King. Amen I say to you, In- 
asmuch as ye did it to one of the least 
of these my brothers, ye did it to me. 

Joshua. Then he will speak also to 
the ones on the left hand, 

The King. Go ye from me, ones 
having been cursed, into the ever- 
lasting fire, the one having been read- 
ied for the devil and his angels: for 
I hungered, and ye did not give to me 
to eat; I thirsted, and ye did not 
cause me to drink; I was for myself 
a stranger, and ye did not gather me; 
naked, and ye did not array me; 
sick, and in guard, and ye did not 
visit me. 

Joshua. Then they also themselves 
will answer, saying, 

The lost. Lord, when saw we thee 
hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, 
or naked, or sick, or in guard, and 
did not serve thee? 

Joshua. Then he will answer them, 
saying, 

The King. Amen I say to you, In- 
asmuch as ye did not do it to one of the 
least of these, neither did ye do it to 
me. 

Joshua. And these shall come away 
into everlasting cutting off: but the 
righteous into everlasting life. 
ACT V. 

Scene i. Jerusalem. Bethany. 
Jerusalem. 

Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
ended all these words, he spoke to his 
disciples, 

Joshua. Ye cognise that after two 
days the passover becomes, and the 
Son of the human is delivered up into 
the end for to be crucified. 

Levi. Then the chiefpriests, and 
the elders of the people, were gathered 
into the court of the highpriest, the 
one denominated Caiaphas; and they 



consulted in order that they might 
lay hold on Joshua by guile, and kill 
him. But they were saying, 

The Sanhedrim. Never in the feast, 
in order that there never might become 
an uproar among the people. 

Levi. But when Joshua became in 
Bethany, in the dwelling of Simon the 
leper, there came unto him a woman 
having an alabaster-boa; of very pre- 
cious ointment, and poured it down 
over his head, as he is reclining at 
table. But the disciples saw it and 
were indignant, saying, 

The disciples. Into what end is 
this destruction? for this was able to 
be bartered for much, and given to 
poor ones. 

Levi. But Joshua knew it and spoke 
to them, 

Joshua. Why annoy ye the woman? 
for she worked a beautiful work into 
me: for ye have the poor always in 
company with yourselves; but me ye 
do not have always: for when this 
woman cast this ointment over my 
body, she did it unto the -purpose to 
ensepulchre me. Amen I say to you, 
Whithersoever this glad tidings might 
be heralded in the whole world, also 
that which this woman did shall be 
talked into a memorial of her. 

Levi. Then one of the twelve, the 
one denominated Judah Iscariot, went 
unto the chiefpriests and spoke, 

Judah Iscariot. What wish ye to 
give to me, and I, I will deliver him 
up to you? 

Levi. But the ones bargained with 
him for thirty pieces of silver. And 
from then he was seeking an oppor- 
tunity in order that he might deliver 
him up. 

Scene 2. Bethany. Jerusalem. A 
large upper room. 

Levi. But on the first day of the 
unleavened bread the disciples came 
unto Joshua, saying, 

The disciples. Where wishest thou 



40 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT V. 



that we might ready for thee to eat 
the passover. 

Levi. But the one spoke, 

Joshua. Retire ye into the city 
unto such an one, and speak to him, 
The Teacher says, My season is near, 
I will keep the passover at thy home 
in company with my disciples. 

Levi. And the disciples did as Josh- 
ua prescribed to them; and they 
readied the passover. But when even- 
ing became, he was reclining at table 
in company with the twelve. And 
while they are eating, he spoke, 

Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
One out of you will deliver me up. 

Levi. And they, being excessively 
grieved, began to say to him, each 
one by one, 

Each disciple. I, am I ever at all he, 
Lord? 

Levi. But the one answered and 
spoke, 

Joshua. The one who dipped in the 
hand in company with me in the dish, 
this one will deliver me up. The Son 
of the human indeed retires according 
as it has been written concerning him: 
but woe to that human through whom 
the Son of the human is delivered up! 
it was beautiful for him, if that hu- 
man was not begotten. 

Levi. But Judah, the one delivering 
him up, answered and spoke, 

Judah. I, am I ever at all he, 
Rabbi ? 

Levi. He says to him, 

Joshua. Thou, thou spokest it. 

Levi. But while they are eating, 
Joshua received bread, and blessed it, 
and broke it; and he gave it to the 
disciples and spoke, 

Joshua. Receive ye, eat; this is my 
body. 

Levi. And he received a cup, and 
gave thanks, and gave it to them, 
saying, 

hua. Drink all ye out of it: for 
this is my blood of the covenant, the 



one poured out concerning many into 
the acquittal of sins. But I say to 
you, that I will not ever drink hence- 
forth out of this product of the vine, 
until that day whenever I may drink 
it new in company with you in the 
kingdom of my Father. 
Scene 3. The mount of Olives. The 
garden of Gethsemane. 

Levi. And they sang a hymn and 
came out into the mount of Olives. 
Then Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. All ye, ye shall be entrapped 
in me in this night: for it has been 
written, I will smite the Shepherd, 
and the sheep of the flock shall be 
scattered abroad. But after the fact 
for me to arise, I will lead before you 
into Galilee. 

Levi. But Peter answered and spoke 
to him, 

Peter. If all shall be entrapped in 
thee, I, I will neither at any time be 
entrapped. 

Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 

Joshua. Amen I say to thee, that 
In this night, before the time for the 
cock to crow, thou wilt utterly deny 
me thrice. 

Levi. Peter says to him, 

Peter. Even if assuredly I must die 
off together with thee, I will not ever 
utterly deny thee. 

Levi. Likewise also all the disciples 
spoke. Then Joshua comes in com- 
pany with them into an estate denom- 
inated Gethsemane; and he says to 
the disciples, 

Joshua. Sit ye down just here, until 
what time I might come away there 
and pray. 

Levi. And he received beside him 
Peter and the two sons of Zebedee 
and began to be grieved and an- 
guished. Then he says to them, 

Joshua. My soul is extremely 
grieved until death: abide ye here, 
and watch in company with me. 

Levi. And he came before a little. 



SCENE IV. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



41 



and fell over upon his face, praying, 
and saying, 

Joshua. My Father, if it is able, let 
this cup pass away from me: never- 
theless not as I, I wish, howbeit as 
thou wishest. 

Levi. And he comes unto the disci- 
ples, and finds them sleeping, and 
says to Peter, 

Joshua. Thus were ye not mighty 
to watch in company with me one 
hour? Watch and pray, in order that 
ye might never enter into temptation: 
the spirit indeed is eager, but the 
flesh is weak. 

Levi. Again out of a second time he 
came away and prayed, saying, 

Joshua. My Father, if it is not 
able for this to pass away, except as- 
suredly I might drink it, let thy wish 
be made to become. 

Levi. And he came again and found 
them sleeping: for their eyes were 
having been weighted down. And he 
acquitted them again, and came 
away and prayed out of a third time, 
and spoke the same word again. 
Then he comes unto the disciples, and 
says to them, 

Joshua. Sleep ye hereafter, and re- 
pose yourselves: lo, the hour has 
neared, and the Son of the human is 
delivered up into the hands of sinners. 
Arise ye, let us lead on: lo, the one 
delivering me up has neared. 

Levi. And while he is yet talking, 
lo, Judah, one of the twelve, came, 
and in company with him an immense 
crowd in company with swords and 
clubs, from the chiefpriests and elders 
of the people. But the one delivering 
him up gave to them a sign, saying, 

Judah. Whomsoever I shall kiss, 
it is he: lay ye hold on him. 

Levi. And immediately he came 
unto Joshua and spoke, 

Judah. Rejoice thou, Rabbi. 

Levi. And he tenderly kissed him 
But Joshua spoke to him, 



Joshua. Companion, over'upon what 
errand art thou present? 

Levi. Then they approached and 
overcast the hands over upon Joshua, 
and laid hold on him. And, lo, one 
of the ones in company with Joshua 
stretched forth the hand and pulled 
out his sword; and he smote the 
bondservant of the highpriest and 
slashed off his ear. Then Joshua 
says to him, 

Joshua. Turn thou away thy sword 
into its place : for all the ones who 
received the sword shall be destroyed 
with the sword. Or thinkest thou 
that I am not able to beseech my 
Father, and he will stand beside me 
at present more than twelve legions 
of angels? Therefore how might the 
scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it 
must become? 

Levi. In that hour Joshua spoke to 
the crowds, 

Joshua. Came ye out as over upon 
a robber in company with swords and 
clubs to capture me? I was seated 
daily in the temple teaching, and 
ye did not lay hold on me: but this 
whole thing has become, in order 
that the scriptures of the prophets 
might be fulfilled. 

Levi. Then all the disciples ac- 
quitted him and fled. 
Scene 4. Jerusalem. The palace of 
the high priest. 

Levi. But the ones who laid hold 
on Joshua led him away unto Caiaphas 
the highpriest, whither the scribes 
and the elders were gathered. But 
Peter was following him from afar off 
until the court of the highpriest; 
and he entered within and was sitting 
in company with the officers, to see 
the end. But the chiefpriests and 
tlic whole council were seeking false- 
witness against Joshua, to the intent 
that they might put him to death; 
and they did not find it. though 
many falsewitpesses approached. Rut 



42 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT V. 



afterward two approached and spoke, 

Two faleswitnesses. This one was 
speaking, I am able to throw down 
the shrine of the God, and through 
three days to build it. 

Levi. And the highpriest stood up 
and spoke to him, 

The highpriest. Dost thou not an- 
swer one thing? what witness these 
against thee? 

Levi. But Joshua was keeping still. 
And the highpriest spoke to him, 

The highpriest. I officially adjure 
thee by the living God, in order that 
thou mightest speak to us whether 
thou, thou art the Messiah, the Son 
of the God. 

Levi. Joshua says to him, 

Joshua. Thou, thou spokest it: 
nevertheless I say to you, Hence- 
forth ye shall see the Son of the hu- 
man sitting on the right hand of the 
power, and coming over the clouds of 
the heaven. 

Levi. Then the highpriest rent 
through his garments, saying, 

The highpriest. He defamed: what 
need have we yet of witnesses? see, 
now ye heard the defamation: what 
seems it to you? 

Levi. But the ones answered and 
spoke, 

The Sanhedrim. He is guilty of 
death. 

Levi. Then they spat right into 
his face, and cuffed him; but some 
slapped him, saying, 

The Sanhedrim. Prophesy thou to 
us, Messiah, who is the one who hit 
thee? 

Levi. But Peter was sitting with- 
out in the court : and one maidservant 
came unto him, saying, 

A maidservant. And thou, thou 
wast in company with Joshua the 
Galilaean. 

Levi. But the one denied it in 
front of all, saying, 

Peter. I do not cognise what thou 



sayest. 

Levi. But when he came out into the 
gateway, another maidservant saw 
him, and says to the ones there, 

Another maidservant. This one was 
in company with Joshua the Nazarene. 
Levi. And again he denied it in 
company with an oath, that 

Peter. I do not cognise the human. 
Levi. But after a little time the 
ones having stood by approached 
and spoke to Peter, 

The bystanders. Truly also thou, 
thou art out of them: for even thy 
talk makes thee evident. 

Levi. Then he began to imprecate 
and to swear, that 

Peter. I do not cognise the human. 
Levi. And immediately the cock 
crew. And Peter remembered the 
saying of Joshua, having spoken, that 
Before the time for the cock to crow, 
thou wilt utterly deny me thrice. 
And he came forth without and 
wept bitterly. 

Scene 5. Jerusalem. The Roman cita- 
del. The temple. The Praetorium . 
Levi. But when the morning be- 
came, all the chiefpriests and the 
elders of the people received consulta- 
tion against Joshua so as to put him 
to death: and they bound him and led 
him away, and delivered him up to 
Pilatus the governor. Then Judah, 
the one delivering him up, when he 
saw that he was condemned, re- 
gretted it and turned over the thirty 
pieces of silver to the chiefpriests and 
elders, saying, 

Judah. I sinned, in that I delivered 
up innocent blood. 

Levi. But the ones spoke, 
The Sanhedrim. What is that unto 
us? thou, thou shalt see to that. 

Levi. And he hurled the pieces of 
silver into the shrine and withdrew; 
and he came away and hanged him- 
self. But the chiefpriests received 
the pieces of silver and spoke, 



SCENE V. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



43 



The chief priests. It is not author- 
ised to cast them into the Korbanas, 
since it is the price of blood. 

Levi. But they received consulta- 
tion and bought out of them the 
potter's field, into burial for the 
strangers. Wherefore that field was 
called, The field of blood, until this 
very day. Then was fulfilled the 
thing spoken through Jeremiah the 
prophet, saying, 

And they received the thirty 
pieces of silver, the price of the one 
having been priced, whom they from 
the sons of Israel priced for themselves; 
and they gave them for the potter's 
field, according to what things the 
Lord prescribed to me. 

But Joshua was made to stand in 
front of the governor: and the govern- 
or interrogated him, saying, 

Pilatus. Thou, art thou the King of 
the Judaeans? 

Levi. But Joshua was speaking to 
him, 

Joshua. Thou, thou sayest it. 
Levi. And in the time for him to be 
accused under the chiefpriests and 
elders, he did not answer one thing. 
Then Pilatus says to him, 

Pilatus. Dost thou not hear how 
many things they witness against 
thee? 

Levi. And he did not answer him 
unto neither one saying; so as for the 
governor to marvel exceedingly. 
But according to the feast the govern- 
or was accustomed to release to the 
crowd one prisoner, whom they were 
wishing. But they were having then 
a notable prisoner, denominated Bar- 
abbas. Therefore when they were 
having been gathered, Pilatus spoke 
to them, 

Pilatus. Whom wish ye that I shall 
release to you? Barabbas, or Joshua 
the one denominated the Messiah? 

Levi. For he cognised that on ac- 
count of envy they delivered him up. 



But while he is sitting over the 
judgment-seat, his wife commissioned 
unto him, saying, 

Claudia's messenger. Never have 
thou even one thing to do with that 
righteous one: for I suffered many 
things to-day in a dream on account 
of him. 

Levi. But the chiefpriests and the 
elders persuaded the crowds in order 
that they might request Barabbas, but 
destroy Joshua. But the governor 
answered and spoke to them, 

Pilatus. Whom wish ye from the 
two that I shall release to you? 
Levi. But the ones spoke, 
The chiefpriests, &c. Barabbas. 
Levi. Pilatus says to them, 
Pilatus. Therefore what shall I do 
with Joshua the one denominated 
the Messiah? 

Levi. They all say, 
The chiefpriests, &c. Let him be 
crucified. 

Levi. But the one was speaking, 
Pilatus. For what bad thing did 
he do? 

Levi. But the ones were crying out 
abundantly, saying, 

The chiefpriests, &c. Let him be 
crucified. 

Levi. But when Pilatus saw that he 
does not profit one thing, howbeit 
rather an uproar becomes, he received 
water and laved the hands clean, in 
full view of the crowd, saying, 

Pilatus. I am innocent from the 
blood of this righteous one: ye, ye 
shall see to it. 

Levi. And all the people answered 
and spoke, 

All. His blood be over upon us, 
and over upon our beams. 

Levi. Then he relased Barabbas to 
them; but he lashed Joshua and de- 
livered him up in order that he might 
be crucified. Then the soldiers of the 
governor received Joshua beside them 
into the Practorium ami gathered 



44 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT V. 



over upon him the whole cohort. 
And they unclothed him and placed 
about him a scarlet military cloak. 
And they plaited a crown out of 
thorns and placed it on over his head, 
and a reed in his right hand: and 
they bowed the knee in front of him 
and mocked him, saying, 

The soldiers. Rejoice thou, the 
King of the Judaeans! 

Levi. And they spat right on him 
and received the reed, and were 
striking him on the head. And when 
they mocked him, they unclothed 
him of the military cloak, and clothed 
him in his own garments, and led him 
away into the end for to crucify him. 
Scene 6. Jerusalem. On the way to 
Golgotha. Calvary. 

Levi. But as they are coming out, 
they found a human, a Cyrenian, 
Simon by name: this one they im- 
pressed in order that he might take 
his cross. And when they came into a 
place denominated Golgotha, which 
is to say, Skull-place, they gave to 
him to drink wine having been min- 
gled in company with gall: and when 
he tasted it, he did not wish to drink 
it. But they crucified him and parted 
his garments throughout for them- 
selves, casting the lot: and sitting 
down they were keeping him there. 
And they placed on overabove his 
head his cause having been written, 

I'ilatus. This Is Joshua The King Of 
The Judaeans. 

Levi. Then two robbers are cruci- 
fied together with him, one on the 
right hand, and the other on the left. 
But the ones going by were defaming 
him, moving their heads, and saying. 

The bygoers. The one throwing 
down the shrine, and in three days 
building it, save thou thyself. If 
thou art the Son of the God, descend 
from the cross. 

Levi. Likewise also the chiefpriests 
in company with the scribes and 



elders were mocking him and saying, 

The chiefpriests, &c. He saved 
others; he is not able to save him- 
self. He is the King of Israel; let him 
descend now from the cross, and we 
will believe over upon him. He has 
confidence over upon the God; let 
him deliver him now, if he wishes 
him: for he spoke, that I am God's 
Son. 

Levi. But also the robbers, the 
ones crucified together along with 
him, were reproaching him with the 
same. But from the sixth hour dark- 
ness became over upon all the land 
until the ninth hour. But about the 
ninth hour Joshua shouted out with a 
loud voice, saying, 

Joshua. Eloi, Eloi, lema sabach- 
thani {Levi. This is, My God, my God, 
to what purpose forsookest thou me) ? 

Levi. But certain of the ones having 
stood there, when they heard it, were 
saying, that 

Certain bystanders. This one voices 
Elijah. 

Levi. And immediately one out of 
them ran, and received a sponge, 
filled it too with vinegar, and placed 
it on a reed and was causing him to 
drink. But the rest were saying, 

The rest. Acquit thou, let us see if 
Elijah is coming who will save him. 

Levi. But Joshua cried out again 
with a loud voice and acquitted the 
spirit. And, lo, the veil of the shrine 
was divided into two from the top 
to the bottom; and the earth was 
quaked, and the rocks were divided; 
and the tombs were opened; and 
many bodies of the holy ones having 
fallen asleep arose; and they came 
forth out of the tombs after his 
arising and entered into the holy 
city, and exhibited themselves to 
many. But the centurion and the 
ones in company with him keeping 
Joshua, when they saw the earth- 
quake, and the things which;, became, 



6CENE VIII. 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



45 



feared excessively, saying, 

The centurion & guard. Truly this 
one was God's Son. 

Levi. But many women were there 
viewing from afar off, whoever fol- 
lowed Joshua from Galilee, serving 
him: among whom was Miriam Mag- 
dalene, and Miriam the mother of 
Jacob and Joses, and the mother of 
the sons of Zebedee. 
Scene 7. Jerusalem. The sepulchre. 

Levi. But when evening became, 
there came a rich human from Ari- 
mathaea, the name Joseph, who also 
himself discipled to Joshua: this one 
came unto Pilatus and requested the 
body of Joshua. Then Pilatus bade 
it to be rendered. And Joseph re- 
ceived the body and wrapped it in a 
clean linen cloth, and placed it in 
his own new tomb, which he hewed 
out in the rock: and he rolled a great 
stone unto the door of the tomb and 
came away. But Miriam Magdelene 
was there, and the other Miriam, sit- 
ting in full view of the sepulchre. 

But on the morrow, whichever is 
after the preparation, the chiefpriests 
and the Pharisees were gathered unto 
Pilatus, saying, 

The chiefpriests & Pharisees. Sir, 
we remembered that that wanderer 
spoke, while yet living, After three 
days I am arising. Therefore bid 
thou for the sepulchre to be made safe 
until the third day, lest at any time 
the disciples might come and steal 
him away, and speak to the people, 
He arose from the dead : and the last 
wandering shall be worse than the 
first. 

Levi. But Pilatus was speaking to 
them, 

Pilatus. Ye have a custodia [guard] : 
retire ye, make it safe, as ye cognise 
how. 

Levi. But the ones went and made 
the sepulchre safe, and sealed the 
stone, in company with the custodia. 



Scene 8. The sepulchre. 'Jerusalem. 
A mountain in Galilee. 

Levi. But long after the sabbath 
was over, as it began to dawn into 
the first day of the week, there came 
Miriam Magdalene, and the other 
Miriam, to view the sepulchre. And, 
lo, there became a great earthquake: 
for an angel of the Lord descended 
out of heaven, and approached and 
rolled away the stone, and was sit- 
ting overabove it. But his semblance 
was as lightning, and his clothing 
white as snow: but from the fear of 
him the ones keeping were quaked, 
and were made to become as dead ones. 
■But the angel answered and spoke 
to the women, 

An angel. Never fear ye, ye: for I 
cognise that ye seek Joshua the one 
having been crucified. He is not here: 
for he arose, according as he spoke. 
Hither ye, see the place whither he 
lay. And go ye quickly and speak 
to his disciples, that He arose from 
the dead; and, lo, he leads before you 
into Galilee; there ye shall see him: 
lo, I spoke to you. 

Levi. And they came away quickly 
from the tomb in company with fear 
and great joy and ran to report to his 
disciples. And, lo, Joshua met them 
saying, 

Joshua. Rejoice ye. 

Levi. But the ones approached and 
laid hold on his feet, and worshipped 
him. Then Joshua says to them, 

Joshua. Never fear ye: retire, re- 
port to my brothers, in order that 
they might come away into Galilee; 
and there they shall see me. 

Levi. But while they are going, lo, 
certain of the custodia came into the 
city and reported to the chiefpriests 
quite all the things which became. 
And they were gathered in company 
with the elders, received consultation 
too and gave sufficient money to the 
soldiers, saying, 



46 



JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 



ACT V. 



The Sanhedrim. Speak ye, that 
His disciples came by night and stole 
him away when we fell asleep. And 
if assuredly this might be heard of by 
the governor, we, we will persuade 
him, and make you unanxious. 

Levi. But the ones received the 
money and did as they were taught: 
and this account was spread abroad 
beside Judagans tip to this very day. 

But the eleven disciples went into 
Galilee, into the mountain where 
Joshua arranged for them. And they 



saw him and worshipped him: but 
some hesitated. And Joshua ap- 
proached and talked to them, saying, 

Joshua. All authority was given to 
me in heaven and over earth. Go ye 
and disciple all the nations, immers- 
ing them into the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Spirit: teaching them to keep all 
things as many as I commanded you: 
and, lo, I, I am in company with you 
all the days, until the consummation 
of the age. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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